PLOTTING IN SYRIA

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1929, Page 8

PLOTTING IN SYRIA

SCHEME TO TURN OUT FRENCH

PARIS,' February lf>

Serious uneasiness prevails about the situation in Syria, over which France holds a mandate under the League of Nations. Agitators are endeavouring to rouse hostility to France with the object df bringing her mandate to an end.

Four years ago, when M. Herriot, then Prime Minister, appointed General Sarrail as'High Commissioner for Syria, there was a serious revolt which cost the lives of hundreds of French soldiers who were am hushed by the fierce Druse tribesmen. The rebellion was ol so serious a nature as to cause disquiet in the adjoining British mandated territory of Palestine.

The climax of the revolt was the dramatic upheaval at Damascus which was repressed with considerable difficulty and only after a portion of the city had been shelled by the Kreneh artillery.

WTien peace bad been rosfode a Con stituent Assembly was set up as an advisory body by'the French to frame, in conjunction with them, a constitution for the country. This assembly, however, bad to he suspended hy M. Ponsot, ’the new High Commissioner, owing to its extravagant demands, which amounted to complete independence. The last move of the French authorities has been, in view of the obstinacy of the Syrian Nationalist leaders, to adjourn further meetings of the assembly indefinitely.