SYRIA’S FUTURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1942, Page 4

SYRIA’S FUTURE

A COMPLEX PROBLEM RACES IN CONFLICT. FOOD SITUATION IMPOVES. The reopening of military operations in North Africa will have its effect on Syria, which is one of the main areas of British resistance, writes Egon Kaskeline, in the "Christian Science Monitor." Syria has been expecting to get its independence. The British and the Free French issued a joint declaration in July, 1941, professing their willingness that Syria should have its autonomy. Events in North Africa, however, may be expected to prevent the Syrian States attaining any real independence before the end of the war. The Syrian question is complicated. It offers some resemblance to the Indian problem. Since, in 1920, France obtained the mandate over Syria and Lebanon, the majority of the population —3,000,000 Moslems —have never ceased to claim complete independence and unity between Syria and Lebanon. The minority of 500,000 Christian Arabs, however, who live in the coastal towns of Lebanon are opposed to Moslem majority rule. It is true that. France preferred rather to apply the principle of “divide and rule” than to make a determined effort to bring the conflicting races and creeds together. Yet not only are the Arab peasants backward and illiterate, but the Nationalist movement of the urban youth proved to be strongly in sympathy with Fascism.

Nazi Underground Exists.

In spite of' the arrest of several Syrians who were on the German and Italian payroll, the pro-German underground organisation which has been set up by the former Mufti of Jerusalem, who to-day lives in Berlin, has not completely been destroyed. The United Nations, therefore, have constituted a Syrian Government formed by moderately. nationalist notables.

The majority of the population, however, has always been less interested in the political game which continues to go on behind the sccenes than in the difficult economic situation of the country. When,' after the capitulation of France, the British extended their blockade to the French Empire, economic life in Syria nearly broke down. Prices went up by leaps and bounds and the scarce foodstuffs were hoarded by speculators. When United Nations troops invaded Syria, the country was on the edge of starvation.

Since then the food situation has somewhat improved as the United Nations imported wheat and other foodstuffs from abroad. From June, 1941. until February, 1942, 60,000 tons of wheat from Australia and Canada, 10,000 tons of sugar, and several thousand tons of other cereals have been imported to Syria. Flour has been distributed among the poor and middle class population in the cities of Damascus and Beirut. Crop expectations are much better this year.

Slow to Take Sides. With the presence of strong United Nations military forces on the spot, unrest in Syria has almost completely slowed down, although Allied outposts are occasionally attacked by armed bands in German pay. Yet the question of Syria’s future is by no means solved and, although the native population as as whole is not pro-Axis, is it also reluctant to back the Allied cause. General Charles de Gaulle’s declaration that “Syria’s freedom is dependent on an Allied victory” may be right, but it is doubtful if all Syrian nationalist leaders accept this point of view. As in other Arab countries the Syrians, which arc not hostile to the United Nations, as is an active minority, continue to follow the great struggle as mere spectators. The British recently announced that they intended to set up native regiments in the Middle East. Syrian and especially Lebanese volunteers already fought with the French in Libya, but it will be interesting to watch in what measure the Syrian populaton will respond to this appeal to arms.