UNREST IN SYRIA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 164, 13 July 1945, Page 7

UNREST IN SYRIA

MOSLEM RULE WANTED

A KISS IN A TRAIN "The people of Syria did not desire the mandate which was given to France after the last war, putting an end to 400 years of Turkish rule. When President Wilson sent what became known as the King-Crane Commission there to investigate, the position, the commission found that what the Assyrians wanted was their independence and a British mandate," said Major N. Bicknell, in an address on Syria to yesterday's luncheon gathering of the Auckland Y.M.C.A. Optimists' Club. "Thus you see the beginnings of the troubles and unrest which exist in Syria and Lebanon to-day. Then there is the Arab question. Their dissatisfaction with non-Moslem rule is traceable to the Koran, in which it is foretold that a Moslem shall rule them. They have submitted to rule by 1 nations other than Moslem because they have realised that the comparative strength of such nations has given them no choice, but their objection is very deep-seated, and one which Britain or any other Power would meet. The French did say that they would eventually give Syria and Lebanon their independence but this has not occurred, and it is to this that to-day's unrest is traceable."

Lebanon, divided from Syria proper by a mountain range, included very rich country, quite the richest in Syria, but communications had been vastly improved by the military road put right through the mountains while the New Zealanders were there.

"One extraordinary thing was that the Berlin-Bagdad express was still running," said Major Bicknell. "It passed through neutral Turkey under supervision to reach the Syrian border where our men made a very strict check-up. One New Zealander on this job, on opening a sleeping compartment, was greeted by a Greek woman with an enthusiastic 'Hello Kiwi.' He was the first New Zealander she had seen or heard of since we'd evacuated Greece. 'I'm going to kiss you. . D'you mind?' she asked excitedly. 'No,' roared the Kiwi, and I heard that the job of train-searching was very much sought-after after that."