MOSLEM LEADER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 65, 18 March 1942, Page 5

MOSLEM LEADER

BREAK WflH ITALY GREAT INFLUENCE IN SYRIA. Cairo, Feb. 22. The influence of the gruai Arau chieitain ion Saud, in incaßing ojil diplomatic relations vvitn ilaij, win! extend througnout the wnoic i.iosiem world, reports lhe Syqjiey Sun s wai correspondent in Syria. Ibn Sau.i rules >ut lanaticahy loyal Moslems, to wnom inis a st.cred figure, but ins power uoes not end there. He is also vc-nc-rale'i by many millions of other Moslem.outside nis own territorial bounaai It is reasonable to assume tnat m entry of the United Stales into the war helped Ibn Saud to make up his mind. It is only a few years since he accepted an American bid tor large oil concessions in his territory, thougn the American terms were 40 per cent, lower than those offered by the highest bidder, who on that occasion was Jaapn, acting as a "dummy" for Italy' and Germany. Ibn Saud’s lead must exert direct influence on the position in Syria and reduce the prospect of success by a German invacsion—even if Germany is able seriously to contemplate a plan for pushing through Tu/key at the same time as she is staggering from the Red Army’s incessant blows. Syria’s native population is. on the , whole, friendly to the Allies. Christian natives and also many Moslems in Syria are 100 per cent. pro-British and anti-Axis.