LOOKING FOR REASON FOR COUP

Chronicle (Levin), 1 April 1949, Page 5

LOOKING FOR REASON FOR COUP

Received Thursday, 7.5 p.m. LONDON, March 31. The littles' special correspondent in Beirut says the reason for the Syrian coup is not yet clear, but it coinoides with the arrival in Damaseus of General Ridiey and M. Henry Vigier, assistants to the actittg Palestine mediator, Dr. Bunche, to afrahge preliininaries for the SyrianTsraeh . , . armistice negetiationS ; ahd -"'thougli' the outbreak is attributed' by some sources to discontent in the army, it is generally thought to be in protest against the impending armistice. The Syrian IWces oVdfipy paris 'bt Northei'n Palestine, Hyrian tei'ritory has not been penetfated bv Lsraelis, and the Syrians do not consider themselves a defeated army. The Syrians have alWays been most.zettlous sUpporters of the movement for the liberatibn of Palestine. Still other sources believe the Government was overthrown becau.se it approved of the pipe-linfe toncession to an American-owned eompany. The Times' Beirut correspondent says latest reports from Damaseus state that Ay Emir Adel Arslan has formed a provisional Goveriimeht of the Shaab Party. The Syrian coup appears to have been remarkably effeciently organised. There was no molestation of foreignerS and no i-nterference with the movement of foreign missioiis' motdr ears. Men of the "Palestine Liberation Army," moving away from the Israeii frontier, were dis&rmed as a precautionary nieasure.