BY ROGER B. EAMES
"Fear over Europe" is the significant title of an article in the "Forum" for February. After citing the many indications of war, the article goes on to say, "No nation wants it. All nations dread it. Civilization has repudiated it as an instrument of national policy. But the menace is real, and it is folly to deny it. There is fear over Europe-ubiquitous fear of suicidal conflict- ineluctable, as though it were independent by human agency."
These are pointed statements. How it seems to be vaguely realized that unseen powers are moving the masses of men, inciting them to acts of violence beyond human control. With monarchist uprisings in Spain, insurrection by Communists and other radicals in France, bloody violence in Austria as the Socialist Workmen's Party battle to overthrow the existing Government, it is not surprising that men's hearts are "failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth."
France's revolt against the Government has been appeased by the recall of former President Doumergue, and the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies. There is uncertainty as to future developments, some believing that it spells the end of the last democracy in Europe, and that a Dictator may arise. "All Europe is impressed by the popular uprising against parliamentary inefficiency . ..France is undoubtedly at another cross-roads in her history… .A turning-point in the history of the nation has been reached" (Literary Digest).
Austria has quelled the revolt of the Socialist Party after much fighting and the loss of many lives. The Nazi and Fascist groups now face each other, and the outcome is, at present, uncertain. Great Britain, France and Italy are ready to maintain the independence of Austria against any aggressive act of Germany, or other Power.
The German-Polish Peace Pact, and the similar non-aggression pact signed by four of the Balkan Powers, have been quite overshadowed by the French revolt and the civil war in Austria.
In pleasing contrast to the turmoil in European countries is the expression of esteem and confidence voiced by the American people in the President on the occasion of his 52nd birthday, which has been said to be "the most amazing national demonstration of affection for a President in the recollection of the oldest White House attaches." This is reason for thanksgiving to God, as well as encouragement to continued prayer, "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Tim. 2:2).
The Exodus of Jews from Germany has created a problem in other countries to which they are flocking. "Competent authorities," says "Prophecy," "have estimated that 70,000 Jews have already been driven out of the country. Practically half of these are business and professional men, the other half consists of dependent women and children and students. Some twenty-five or thirty thousand have found a refuge in France. Palestine has received 9,000. The other countries which are harboring these victims of Hitlerism include Poland, Czechoslovakia, Holland, England, Belgium and Switzerland."
Great Britain does not permit an unlimited immigration to Palestine but will, according to its quota, allow them to come in as fast as the country is able to absorb them. The Arab population is bitterly protesting this new influx into the land which, they claim, belongs to them. When the remnant returned with Zerubbabel from the Babylonish captivity they very shortly met with opposition from the inhabitants of the land, and this became so, determined that the work of rebuilding the temple was hindered. Nehemiah also met with the same opposition. History is repeating itself in relation to the Jews' present return. If the Arabs are the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael, then they are, of course, the seed of Abraham, but as Isaac and Ishmael could not dwell together (Gen. 21), neither can their descendants. "The son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman."
Palestine is a small country, about the size and shape of the State of New Hampshire, that is, if we think only of the land lying between the Jordan and the Mediterranean. But these are not the boundaries as promised to Abraham, which include all the territory eastward to the Euphrates (Gen. IS:18). The limited area west of the Jordan is too small for a population of millions, and they will expand to the eastward until they possess all the great country to the Euphrates. "Thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants" (Isa. 29:19).
"The chosen people" gives some interesting statistics as to the Jews. Quoting Acts 7:17, "But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt," the article says, "The Israelites were weak and few in number when they went down to settle and establish a home in Egypt…. until, 'the time of the promise drew nigh.' Then, suddenly, Israel began to grow and multiply until the whole land was filled with Abraham's seed. And the most authentic history tells us that the Israelites came out of Egypt some two millions strong-perhaps more. Not a bad showing from a start of Jacob's twelve sons some 230 years before.
"Now let us look at the modern world for a moment and we may be surprised to see a remarkable parallel. Not so many hundred years ago, in the Middle Ages, before America was discovered, Dr. Adolph Saphir tells us that 'throughout the whole world there were less than one million Jews.. .But in the year 1800 the total had jumped to three million. Then followed a century of such merciless Jew hate and massacre… .that no race could humanly ever have survived, but would have been totally destroyed. But, contrary to human experience, the year 1900, a century later, found in the world some twelve million Jews! They had quadrupled themselves in 100 years of violent world-hatred and bloodshed. And, wonderful as it may seem, the beginning of the year 1934 finds in the world nearly sixteen million Jews! They have increased 33 1/3 per cent in thirty years' time, and again in the face of persecution and suppression.' "
A highway out of Egypt. During the world war the British army constructed a water pipe-line from the Nile in Egypt across the desert to Palestine. Along this pipe-line a roadway was also made. In more recent years many roads have been built in Palestine. And now, along the new oil pipe-line from Assyria into the land, a highway has been constructed which links up with Palestine roads, completing a continuous thoroughfare from Assyria to Egypt. Some believe this to be a fulfilment of the prophecy, "In that day shall there be an highway out of Egypt to Assyria" (Isa. 19:23). While it is true a highway has been laid down, the evident intent of the prophecy is to, show that in the coming day of Israel's and the world's blessing under the reign of the Messiah there will be a peaceful and familiar intercourse between these two nations who in ages past warred against each other. Israel's location will be "in the midst/' that is, her geographical position is between the two peoples, Assyria lying to the north-east, and Egypt to the southwest of the land of Israel. "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance" (Isa. 19:24,25).