nt would reject the plan. It
was found that the area would require five times as much water as had
been first estimated. The Egyptian Government could not permit the
diversion of such a quantity of water from the Nile.

An attempt to have Chamberlain intervene with Egypt was not
successful. "That being the case," said Chamberlain, "What about
Uganda?" Self-administration would be accorded. The Governor could
definitely be a Jew. Although the matter belonged to the Foreign
Office, he would have it transferred under his jurisdiction in the
colonial office. The territory would be the permanent property of a
colonization company created for the purpose. After five years, the
settlers would be given complete autonomy. The name of the settlement
was to be "New Palestine."

Herzl pressed for a reply from the government in order that the
project might be presented to the Zionist Congress on August 14, 1903.
The official proposal came from Sir Clement Hill, permanent head of
the Foreign Office. In this letter it was stated that Lord Landsdowne
had studied the question with the interest which His Majesty's
Government always felt bound to take in every serious plan destined to
better the condition of the Jewish race. The time had been too short
for a closer examination of the plan and for its submission to the
British representative for the East African (Uganda) Protectorate.
"Lord Landsdowne assumes," the letter continues, "that the Bank
desires to send a number of gentlemen to the East African Protectorate
to establish whether there is in that territory land suitable for the
purpose in view; should this prove to be the case, he will be happy to
give them every assistance in bringing them together with His
Majesty's Congress, the conditions under which the settlement could be
carried out. Should an area be found which the bank and His Majesty's
representative consider suitable, and His Majesty's government
consider desirable, Lord Lansdowne will be glad to consider favorably
proposals for the creation of a Jewish colony or settlement under such
conditions as will seem to the members to guarantee the retention of
their national customs...."

The document went on with an offer--subject to the consent of the
relevant officials--of a Jewish governorship and internal autonomy.

This was the first official proposal in connection with the Zionist
movement which Herzl was able to submit to a Zionist Congress. When
the letter of Sir