Evening star., 1919-03-07
EXPECTING MUCH
OF PEACE PARLEY
Arab Peoples Gratefully
Emerging From Rule of the
Grasping Turk.
PROBLEMS FOR SOLUTION
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
stnT Correspondent of The Star.

StaT Correspondent of The Star.
PARIS, February 2l.--The great
Arab countries of the near east are
drawing deep the breath of freedom.
The more than a score of nomad
tribes inhabiting the Arabian desert
for generations and generations have
successfully resisted the yokes which
the civilization has sought to place
upon them, and when / speak of the
Arab it is not these. but the more
than 100000 Arabs residing in the
more enlightened sections of great
Arab territory, which in extent is more
than one-third as large as the United
States
In Hediaz in Syria. whose populations
are fundamentally Arab: in sir and
Yemen and Alesopotamia those efe-
ments of the population that have
sought to retain semblance of their
ancient forms in face of the harsh
restrictive measures of the selfish and
grasping Turk today see not only the
development of their country as they
have long dreamed, but see the eS-
tabiishment of long cherished social
and economic customs which almost
have become extract. They see an
era where the advanced civilization
of other sections of the world can ne
brought into play without restriction
for the full development of their in
dustrial and financial life. They see
prosperity where once misery ruled
because of the ruthless methods of
Turkish government in exploitation.
Hope Centered in Conference.
Arab peoples are expecting much of
the peace conference in Paris. Com
missions have gone forth to thorough
ly study the complex and multi
tudinous questions that are confront
ed in this section of the world 50 that
when settlement finally is reached in
the deliberations here there viii be
unity of purpose and common accom-
plishnent toward the ideals the en-
lightened elements OF the Arab pop
ulations have set for themselves.
Represented in the peace conference
in Paris is the King of the Hedjaz,
associated in the popular mind as the
Grand Cherif of Mecca, who rendered
such yeolnan service In unlooSenlng
Turkish fetters which bound millions
of people from Syria southward. Just
as he is a great warrior and effective
one. so as an intellectual he is a great
statesmen. His proposals in the con-
ference in Paris that there be created
in the Arab-speaking countries OF the
near east a definite Pan n-Arab move
ment, one which, though not bringing
immediate unity to all the Arab
speaking countries, is destined TO
eventually bring them under the sway
of one government, meets with favor.
Generally speaking. there are six
phases OF the Pan-Arab movement.
Each IS admittedly a separate problem
" hich for the time being must be dealt
with in individual fashion if success is
to come to the whole regime. The He'd
jaz, Yasir and Yemen, the Arabian des-
ert, Palestine, Syria and MesopotaTlia
are the various sections which offer sep
arate problems. Peculiar economic and
social conditions, individual to each, is
for the delicacy with which
the whole problem has to be treated.
Fronts on the Red Sea-.
The Hedjaz is a purely Arab country |
fronting on the Red sea and its popuia-
ton is estimated at 800, 600. In it are |
located the trade centers of Mecca and
Medina. II claims to have been indie
pendent for period of eight centuries:
South of the Hedjaz are the countries of
Asir and Yemen, which now are under
the direct control of native chieftains,
and owing to the peculiar local condi-
tions which prevail in these two sections
1t is not suggested to the peace confer
ence that they be subject to special i'm
mediate consideration, as they nave
shown themselves to be a people who
are able in large measure 10 Work out
their own destinies and have plenty OF
for self-deyelopment.
East of the Hedjaz is the Arabian
desert with tWenty-sfx nomad tribes.
Again II is believed that best pur-
poses can be served If these Arabs are
permitted to continue their present
forms. at least until some definite
organization acceptable to all the
Arabs is formed and until the nomads
laa Isad d
sons of civilization, education and or
ganized progress. Repressive meas
ureS at the moment might not be
conducive to the best interests OF
these people in the long run. In fact,
suspecting that the King of the He'd
JAZZ Is about TO barter their future
freedom. isolated chieftains have de-
ciared war on the former grand cherif
These movements. however. have not
seriously interfered with steps to-
ward real enlightened progress for all
Arab peoples. 1t is suggested. how
ever that the league Of nations ex-
ercise oversight over Aleppo, Damas-
Gus, Nedjef and Kerbela, the market
centers of the nomad peoples.
Not Serious Pan-Arab Factor.
Palestine, because of the Zionist
movement, has been eliminated for
the moment as a serious factor in the
pan-Arab movement.
North OF Palestine lies Syria with
the railroad centers of Damascus,
HONS, Hama and Aleppo and the
harbors OF Beirut Tripli and Latakia.
The question of Syria has really prov
ed a serious one In the deliberations
of the peace conferees having to do
with the issue Syria long has been
the center of Turkish barbarities and
cruelties practiced to eliminate ma
Z iYf. II iiGti Hf h lob has
despite Ottoman efforts to crush 1t.
France has distinct interests in
Syria, trade and otherwise. Likewise
the British have interests there. AS
between foreign populations, however,
the French are preponderant in the
coastal cities. In addition large in
dustries of southern France today are
dependent upon the close relations be-
tween France and Syria. There are
sentimental ties between certain eie-
ments of Syria and the French, but
the commercial ties are even stronger
notwithstanding this, however, there
are large sections of Syrian people in
the hinterland who are opposed TO
French colonial policies and practices
which differ materially from those of
the British. France usually develops her
colonies along strictly French lines
British on the other hand has given
her colonies more room for expansion
and has sought in no way to sub
stitute British institutions for native
except in such Instances as these local
institutions have interfered with the
real progress of the people AS a
consequence of this hundreds of thou
sands of Syrians are demanding that
If Syria be placed under the mandate
of any power let Britain preside over
their destinies until there is an estab-
iished order of things
=.