NEW KING OF SYRIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17936, 2 August 1920, Page 5

NEW KING OF SYRIA

HOME RULE FOR LEBANONS. PALESTINE’S FUTURE. Emir Feisal, the great Arab chief, has been crowned King of Syria, being nominated by the Syrian ConI gress at Damascus. The new -King ' at present resides in a "simple grey : painted bouse set amid trees on the 1 hili side looking down on the ort chards of Damascus.'’ ' To a special correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Mail” he said: “Our action • is justified because the Allies promised us long ago an independent Arab kingdom. But what immediately forced the Pan-Syrian Congress to take the step of proclaiming Syrian independence was the never-ending ' i delay of the Peace Conference to come to some decision." NO IMPERIAL PART. . In the Journal des Debats," W. ■ Auguste Gauvaiu examines the situation created for France by the proclamation of Syrian independence and the policy which she should pursue towards the Emir Feisal. The . Emir, he thinks, might be left at Damascus, and a limited authority allowed to him, but he must not bo assisted in imposing his rule over | those sections of the population .which, rejecting his sovereignty, turns towards France. M. Gauvair finds a solution for the problem in the establishment of a Syrian confederation, in which I- rance would play the part of arbiter. The Emir Feisal could have an important place inatbis confederation it he consented to limit, his ambitions, but he must rot be encouraged to espire to play "an Imperial part." The moment has come, in the writer’s iopinion, for the friends of France in Syria to oppose to the Congress of Damascus another properiy-constitut-ed congress. THE PEOPLE OF THE LEBANONS OBJECT. “The. ’Mokattam’ has obtained the following from persons who have just arrived from the Lebanon,” says the "Times" Cairo correspondent. "After the decision of the Syrian Congress the Administrative Council ’ of the Lebanon met to onsider the Lebanese question. While they were deliberating they received an intimation from General Gouraud to see him. This they did, '‘eing well received. “General Gouraud asked them to protest against the decision of the Damascus Congress. One of the leading members, a Maronite, replied that he had been thinking of protesting in order to maintain the independence of the Lebanon and guarantee the interests of the mountain, which had already advanced far on the road leading to independence. The Council subsequently met and decided to hold a general Lebanese Congress, to hoist the Lebanese flag everywhere, to prepare a constitution and declare the complete independence of the Lebanon with the assistance of the French, provided that the latter did not encroach on the liberties of the mountain.” ALLIES AND EMIR FEISAL. “Concern for ‘Peace Conference discipline’ has prompted the British and French Governments to warn the Emir Feisal that his* personal sovereignty over areas whose future status has still to be settled by the Supreme Council cannot be recognised by them until the sanction of the Council has been first sought and obtained,” says a diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." "At the same time, it is understood that, provided the Emir should comply with the demands made upon him by the Supreme Council and shoif a moderate and conciliatory mood in the impending negotiations, his claims will be treated with every consideration. , “Given certain guarantees, administrative and, especially, economic, ♦ there will be no inclination on the part of either ourselves or the French to press for the direct control. whether of the Syrian interior or of Upper Mesopotamia. On the other hand, the Emir’s titular sovereignty, even if confirmed by the Supreme Council, will not be permitted to obstruct the French mandate over Lebanon or the British mandate over Palestine. London and Paris are in complete agreement as to this." Asked what was the attitude ol ills Government towards the Lebanon (the mountain region of Syria), the new King of Syria replied: •The Lebanon may have entire independence, provided it does not place itself definitely in foreign occupation. * SYRIAN DECLARATION. Here are the terms in which the National Conference of 117 members drew up their declaration of Independence in Damascus:— “The Conference declares: fl) The complete independence of Syria within its natural boundaries from Sinai to the Taurus, and from the Syriav Desert to the sea, without any protectorate, mandate or any form of foreign interference: (2) the proclamation ot Emir Feisal as King of Syria; (3) compulsory military service; (4) the notification of the representatives of the European powers and of the Peace Conference at Paris, of this decision.”