The Cordova daily times., 1919-02-28
WANTS SUPERVISION
 OVER SYRIA

the Associated Press) The rights of France to guide the destinies of Syria, Lebanon and Armenia-Minor were expounded to the Associated Associated Press today by M. Gout, director, for Asia in the French for eign office. M. Gout asserted that it had long been the role of France to protect the helpless peoples of the orient and recalled interventions by | France in Syria and Lebanon to de. fend the Christians and that France had played great part in the defense of the Armenians in 1895 and 1896. France" he said, worked not only to protect Christians but she also sent missionaries into all parts of Turkey, not for the purpose of proselyting but for teaching and charitable work. Be- fore the war there were French schools in all sections of Turkey, and in the great towns there were French hospitals for the care of the poor. In Syria especially the number of French schools was considerable. In Beirut we had large university, and must add that the Americans also had one, working for civilization of the Syrian people A great number of physicians were bred in the French universities" !"
 M. Gout called attention to the fact that French capital and industry had created three of the four ports of Asia Minor, and pointed to the great rail- ways built and controlled by the French The first road opened be- tween Damascus and the coast, the Damascus Beirut line, was French, he said It was also a French society which, before the war, undertook the repair of roads in many parts of the Ottoman empire, and a French com pany had concession for big rail way in Armendia. The important silk industry in Syria, he added, had been fostered and developed by France.
 We may point out also the great share France in the public debt of Turkey, which is nearly 60 per cent" he continued. "The share of England before the war was ten or twelve per cent, that of Italy nearly five per cent, and Germany had all the rest.
 There is another important phase of the question. You know about the great number of monasteries and re-. Engious institutions in Jerusalem. For our French Catholics Jerusalem is second Rome and they always nave sent money and missionaries to pro mote the Catholic influence in this holy town.
 "Tkis sums up large part of the claims of France in Asia Minor, and l believe that M. Pichon (French for eign minister) was entitled to speak of our rights there. He was the. more entitled to do so in view of the abominations committed against the Armenians and Syrians by Turkish Unionists early in the war"
 Referring to the treaty signed by France and England while the war was in progress under which France was to have supervision of Syria, Lebanon and Armenia Minor, M. Gout added:
 At that time France and England thought it necessary after the war to give all these populations a certain future and autonomy. But we were obliged to note that in these coun- tries there were a large number of races and religions. Great differences exist between these religions and races It is not possible to give these countries uncontrolled independence. Their best people also agree that 1t is necessary to have. not a master. but a sort of arbitrator and guide to civil ixation."