CONDITIONS IN SYRIA.

Northern Advocate, 15 March 1922, Page 3

CONDITIONS IN SYRIA.

| GENERAL GOUKAUD'S RECORD OF 'PROGRESS. (general Gouraud, the French High Commissioner in Syria, who was called home to confer with M. Briand as to the situation in Cilicia and the rest of the territory under French control, in the course of an interview with a 1 journalist on landing at Marseilles, ' sho.that he was entirely optimistic as fu the situation in Syria. He said: "We go{ rid of the Emir Feisal as far i>:,ck <is July 1920, but it was not until the end of August that we brought to a a end the insurrections provoked by Turkish propagandists, while it was only at the end of October that an agreement was signed with the Kemalist Government. In spite of these unfavourable conditions, good, progress has been realised. From the financial point, of view the credits of 185 million francs granted to the High Commissioner's department at the beginning of 1021 had been reduced to 120 millions by April last, and those asked for for 1922 will not exceed 50 millions —a decrease of nearly three-quar-ters. Meanwhile excellent has been done towards the development of Syria. The Customs have been reorganised and regulated in a manner that will help to bring back to Beyrout the trade which has tended to go elsewhere; the railway from Horns to Tripoli, which had been destroyed by the Germans and the Turks during the war has been re-established; the harbour works at Alexandretta have been begun;, and the roads of the region have been put into good condition. During the year also the troops have constructed a road fifty miles long from llama, in the interior, to the coast." The trade of Beyroat, the General continued, has now returned appreciably to its pre-war importance, with the difference that France now holds front place, whereas before the- war she was fourth. The real wealth of Syria was agricultural. At present some 450,000 tons of wheat and barley were produced annually, but only a quarter of the area capable of cultivation was used. Cotton planting had been begun in Tripoli plain, where there were nearly BSB,OOO acres of land suitable for cotton growing. This area, with ;i very moderate yield, should produce about ono sixth of the amount of cotton required by France, and Alsacelorraine in 19.13. Wool was another of the staple products of the country, but its yield had been terribly reduced through the war. There was reason to hope, however, that, with the reestablishment of the veterinary service, the country would soon be able again t 0 export an amount equivalent to that wliicli it sold before the war. Much of the land had gone out of cultivation owing to the absence of irrigation during the war, but tflready over 150,000 acre- have again been brought under !:•: Ration. General Goumud concluded by stating that, thanks to the prestige of France and the value of its officers, over 800 volunteers had joined the colours during the past two years, and had fought well during last summer's operations.