Amid the occupation’s recognition of what is known as Somaliland, the separatist region in northern Somalia that had maintained secret contacts with the occupation, historical documents have resurfaced once again, revealing efforts by the Jewish Agency, with the assistance of Britain and the United States, to establish a state for European Jews in that region approximately 81 years ago.
Accounts published a collection of historical documents, reviewed by Sunna Files and published for their most significant contents. These documents included correspondence from the United States Department of State to the Kingdom of Ethiopia aimed at arranging the establishment of an autonomous region designated for European Jews. They also included a booklet authored by Herman Furenberg, head of the Gildemeester Committee for Jewish Aid, which was founded in 1938 in the Netherlands during the Nazi period.
Furenberg was among the most prominent figures working on the issue of European Jewish migration to Ethiopia and among those seeking to establish a state for them from the fragmented land in the Harar region, spanning parts of Ethiopia and Somalia, which was explicitly referred to at the time as Somaliland.
The head of the Jewish organisation stated in the correspondence included in his book: “I believe there is only one region that combines within itself the four advantages I have mentioned, and I propose to unite what is known as the Harar region in Ethiopia with a part of British Somaliland and establish a state for European Jews there.”
He added: “This region is sufficiently large, as it would be easy to allocate between 60,000 and 70,000 square miles for this purpose. It is inhabited by a small number of agricultural residents who are not expected to raise major difficulties. Nevertheless, it will be necessary to remember the lessons learned from the Palestine experience, namely preventing the region from being flooded by people arriving from other parts of Ethiopia, and preventing the entry of foreign agitators.”
Furenberg stressed that “the climate in the highlands is entirely healthy and suitable for Europeans. As for those parts of the Somali coast that have an unhealthy climate, they can be improved within a reasonable period of time through irrigation.”
He said that “the Harar region is particularly suitable for agriculture and therefore for mass migration. It will also have ready markets for its agricultural and later industrial products within Africa, in the Arab countries, and in parts of India.”
He pointed out that “politically, these regions belong, as previously mentioned, to Great Britain and the Ethiopian Empire.”
Furenberg stated in his remarks to the British that the British government had proposed in 1935 to the Emperor of Ethiopia that it hand over the port of Zeila and certain other parts of British Somaliland to him if he were prepared to make certain concessions to Italy.
He continued: “Therefore, it is not unlikely that the British government today may be prepared to cede a relatively larger part of Somaliland, together with the port of Berbera, to the European Jewish state we envisage.”
Furenberg said: “The Ethiopian imperial house claims descent from the Jewish King David, and the Emperor bears the title Lion of Judah.” He added: “Should that not also imply a certain obligation to provide the urgently needed assistance to these non-sibling brothers in Europe and to receive them under conditions befitting the twentieth century?”
He indicated by saying: “As for the Jews, for their part, they should have no objection to recognising the sovereignty of the Ethiopian Emperor, with certain guarantees from Great Britain and the United States of America. Let the Lion of Judah prove that he combines the courage of David, the wisdom of Solomon, and the good governance of the Queen of Sheba.”
The book documented by the Holocaust Museum, without making it available as an electronic copy, included a letter from Furenberg to the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, which contained the following text: “Your Majesty, a group of Jewish men and women of European origin respectfully submits the following petition to Your Majesty, hoping it will receive your gracious attention and approval. Our group centres around Mr Herman Furenberg, whose name and work in relation to the settlement project in Harar must surely be known to Your Majesty.”
The letter added: “To indicate our geographical and political objectives, the group has adopted the provisional name Council for an Autonomous Jewish Region in Harar, the Harar Council, and we hope that Your Majesty will permit us to continue using this name or an alternative that may be more suitable.”
The signatories stated: “There is no doubt that Your Majesty is aware that large numbers of innocent men and women in Europe have suffered in recent years severe persecution at the hands of the Nazis. This persecution has fallen with particular severity upon the Jewish people, whose suffering has reached extreme levels. We seek basic principles and the preparation of a basis for an agreement to be negotiated with Your Majesty.”
The proposal included the allocation of what was described as the Harar region, of which Somaliland would be a part, “under Your Majesty’s sovereignty, for the migration of European Jews. Representations will be made to the British government regarding territorial arrangements in British Somaliland that would allow free access to the sea through the ports of Berbera and Zeila.”
According to the letter, “Migration will take place in large and organised groups directed to lands that have been carefully identified and allocated in advance. All migrants wishing to settle in the Harar region will be required to swear an oath of loyalty to Your Majesty. Upon completion of the migration procedures, they will obtain full rights and duties of citizenship within the Harar region. This citizenship does not entitle its holders to obtain citizenship in other parts of the Ethiopian Empire.”
It continued: “The autonomy of the region extends only within its boundaries. All internal affairs are administered by a governing body elected by the inhabitants of the region. A royal governor or viceroy is appointed as Your Majesty’s representative, and his rights and duties are defined in a special democratic constitution for the region. English shall be the official language, and all education shall be conducted in this language.”
The letter indicated that the King of Ethiopia would be entitled to receive “a fair, agreed-upon share of certain taxes levied in the region, income that will increase as its industrial and cultural life grows. Responsibility for loans contracted by the Harar region is limited to the citizens of that region, and no obligation is imposed on the Ethiopian government.”
“We are fully aware of the many difficulties involved in implementing this project, but necessity …”
The documents reveal that Furenberg was among the most enthusiastic advocates for establishing a Jewish state in Somaliland and Ethiopia, and for abandoning the Balfour Declaration in which Britain pledged to establish a “national home” for Jews in Palestine after its occupation.
Furenberg said in one of his correspondences: “Abandoning the Balfour Declaration would be a sacrifice offered by the Jews. Renouncing independence in Palestine and the national home in the Holy Land is indeed a heroic sacrifice, a sacrifice upon the altar of humanity. This sacrifice would be justified if it contributed to shortening the war, even by a few days, and it would be doubly justified if it created the possibility for millions of Jews to live in political and economic security. This possibility truly exists. It exists here and now,” referring to Somaliland.
He asked: “For many years, the Jewish people throughout the world, not only those persecuted by Hitler, have looked with confidence to the peoples of England and the United States. Who could doubt that these two peoples would appreciate the magnitude of the sacrifice represented by abandoning the Balfour Declaration?”
Furenberg said: “The benefits resulting from the establishment of such a state would be greater for non Jews than for Jews. It seems certain that abandoning the Balfour Declaration would remove the poison from Arab Jewish relations and make friendship and understanding between the two peoples possible. I have already pointed out the benefits that would accrue to the British Empire and to the United Nations. The entire world would be freed from a potential and permanent source of disturbance.”
He continued: “As for the Jews of England and the Americas, the establishment of an autonomous Jewish state outside Palestine would constitute a significant improvement in their own situation. The idea of establishing a Jewish state outside Palestine is not new, and quite many regions have been examined from this perspective.”
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