AN EXILE KING

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20821, 3 June 1939, Page 12

AN EXILE KING

ZOG OF ALBANIA CANDIDATE FOR SYRIAN THRONE (Times Air Mail Service.) LONDON, May 13. King Zog, of Albania, driven from his own country by the Italian invaders, is a candidate for the throne of Syria, writes the Jerusalem correspondent of the Daily Herald. The League of Nations mandate which France holds over Syria will end soon. At the moment French Legations and Consulates in the Near East are being asked for likely reactions in their areas to Zog’s candidature for the throne. Zog is at present in Turkey, and is going to Syria shortly “for a holiday.” French Support In Turkey he lias found powerful friends, who are urging his fitness for the throne —and as a bulwark against Italian aspirations in the Near East. Influential French circles are also backing him. Syrian leaders who are in his favour point out that he would not be the first Albanian to be enthroned in the Near East; there is a precedent in the present Egyptian dynasty. There are, of course, other candidates. Supported by the Turkish Government and favoured by the French Foreign Office Is the 5 8-year-old Abdul Mejid, eldest son of Prince Ali Ilayder, who is a brother of ex-King Hussein of the Hedjaz. Nazis’ Friend? A third aspirant is the 42-vear-old Emir Zeid, fourth son of Hussein. He was Iraq's Minister in Berlin when the plot was discovered last March to assassinate Ghazi and enthrone him. . He is suspected of having strong Nazi sympathies. He has flown to Paris to press his claim. Then there is Prince Abdul Moneim, son of the Egyptian ex-Kbedive, Abbas Ililmi. lie is popular with the British. 4 , And finally there is Emir Abdullah, of Transjordania, who has long been working for the union of Transjordania, Palestine, and Syria under his kingship.