REPUBLIC OF LEBANON

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10634, 6 July 1920, Page 7

REPUBLIC OF LEBANON

FRANCE AS THE MANDATORY POWER. Some time back it was mentioned in the cable columns of tho “limes” that important changes were pending in Lebanon. Those members of the Now Zealand Mounted Rifles who saw service in that section of the campaign, will he interested to learn that Beirut has been the scene of several very important political gatherings, the result of which has been that Lebanon has been proclaimed as a republic, with Franco as mandatory Power. . By this time the Congress has been convoked for, the purpose .of proclaiming the inauguration of the Republic of Greater Lebanon. Tho newspaper “A 1 Apwal,” in explanation, says the Lebanese were impatient of tho delays of the Great Powers in arranging the solution of the Lebanon question. They had, therefore, resolved to take this decision and to confront Europe with a “fait accompli.” Dispatches would be sent to the Lebanon committees abroad, inviting them to' proclaim the Lebanon’ Republic at, the ,same time as here.

By the first boat from Egypt there would arrive a delegation from the Lebanese committees to be present at the celebration. The Lebanese delegation then in Paris had been charged to communicate these decisions to the Peace Conference.

The Lebanon Congress will most likely meet at Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.

In addition to these details, _ it is said, the candidates for tho presidency of the Lebanon Republic capable of filling that position are:-—Habib Pasha Saad, Emir Amin Arslan (formerly Turkish Consul in Brazil), Suleyman Effcndi, Bustani, Alfred Bey Sursock, Emir Amin Mustapha Arslan, Auguste Pasha Adib.