NEW KING OF SYRIA

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1920, Page 3

NEW KING OF SYRIA

HOME RULE FOR THE LEBANONS

1 PALESTINE’S FUTUHIO. Emir Fcisal, tile great Arab chief, Ims been crowdned King of Syria, being nominated by the Syrian Congress at Damascus. The new King at present resides in a. 'simple grey painted house set amid trees on the hillside looking down on the orchards of Damascus.” To a special correspondent of the “Daily Mail” he said: “Our action is justified because the Allies promised us long ago an independent Arab kingdom. But what immediately forced the PanSyrian Congress to take ti e step of proclaiming Syrian independence was the never-ending delay of the Peace Contere.nco to come to some decision.” NO IMPERIAL ASPIRATIONS. In the “Journal des Dehats” M. Auguste Oauvain examines the situation I created for France by the proclamation of Syrian independence and the policy which she should pjirsue towards the Emir Fcisal. The Emir, lie thinks, might be left at Damascus, and a limited authority allowed to him, but he must not lie assisted in imposing his rule over those sections of the population which, rejecting his sovereignty, turns towards France. M. Gauvain finds a solution for the problem in the establishment of a Syrian confedeartion, in which France would play the part of arbiter. The Emir Feists could have an important place in this confederation if he consented to limit his ambitions, but he must not he encouraged to aspire to play “an Imperial part.” Tlie moment Has conic, in the writer’s opinion, lor the iriends of France in Syria to oppose to the Congress 0 f Damascus another properlyconstituted congress. THE PEOPLE OF THE LEBANON / OBJECT.

The “Mokattam” lias obtained the following from persons who have just arrived from the Lebanon,” says the “Times” Cairo correspondent. “After the - decision' of the Syrian Congress the Administrative Council ot the 'Lebanon met to consider the Lebanese question. While they were deliberating they received an invitation from General Gouraud to see him. lliis they did, being well received. “General Gpuraud asked them to protest against the decision of the Damascus Congress. One of the leading members, a Maronite-, replied that he had been thinking of protesting in order to maintain the independence of the Lebanon and guarantee the interests of the mountain, which had already advanced far on the road leading to independence. “The Council subsequently met and decided to hold a general Lebanese Congress, to hoist the Lebanese flag everywhere, to prepare a constitution aml declare the complete independence of the Lebanon with the assistance of the French, provided that the latter did. not encroach on the liberties of the mountain. ALLIES AND EMIR FEISAL.

“Concern for ‘Peace Conference discipline has prompted the British and French Governments to warn the Emir [peisal that liis personal sovereignty over areas whose future status has still to be settled by the Supreme Council cannot lie recognised by them until the sanction of the Council has been first sought and obtained,” says a diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.”. “At ths same time, it is understood that, provided the Emir should comply with the demands made upon him by the Supreme Court and show a moderate and conciliatory mood in the impending negotiations, his claims will lie treated with every consideration. “Given certain guarantees, administrative and especially, economic, there will be no inclination on the part of cither ourselves or the French to press for the direct control, whether of the Syrian interior, or of Upper Mesopotamia. On the other hand, the Emir's titular sovereignty, even jf confirmed by the Supreme Council, will not. be permitted to obstruct the French mandate over Lebanon or the British mandate over Palestone, London and Paris are in complete agreement to this. Asked wliat was the attitude of Ins Government towards the Lebanon (the mountain region of Syria), the new King of Syria replied: “The Lebanon may have entire independence, provided it does not place itself definitely in foreign occupation. SYRIAN DISCLA R ATION.

Here are the terms in which the National Conference of 117 members drew up their Declaration of Independence ; ii Damascus: “The Conference declares: (If The complete independence of Syria, within its natural boundaries from Sinai to the Taurus, and from the Syrian desert to mandate or any form of foreign intererenee; (2) the proclamation of Emir Feisal as King of Syria ; (3) compulsory military service; (4) the notification of the representatives of the European, Powers and of the Peace Conference at Paris, of this decision.”