The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-02

cordance with the desire of the Syrians to claim their own coast. General Al lenby, commander chief of the allied forces opperating in Syria, ordered the flag to be run down at once and the coast handed over to the French. This the Syrians did, and Emir Feisal left for Paris at once to secure by peace full negotiation what the Syrians had tried to secure by force.
 For year after the Turish armistice signed, all of Syria was under Allenbys dictatorship, being sub divided into British zone in Palestine. a French zone in Cilicia and on the coast, and an Arab zone in the hinterland. Then the Anglo Persian treaty of last Aug ust caused such offense in Paris that an agreement was reached by which the British withdrew into Palestine, leaving the French supreme on the coast and in Cilicia, and the Syrian Arabs supreme in the hinterland.
 Since that time, Feisal has moved heaven and earth to reac han agree ment--between the Syrians and the French respecting the coast. French insstence on the coast has resulted in his complete failure. During his ab- sence in Paris and London, the Zion ist programme has been gradually talk ing shape in Palestine, and new re- sentiment on the part of the Syrians against Britain, has appeared. There were plenty of discontented elements at hand in the near east for the Syfians to ally themselves with. The national ists of Egypt (who, by the way, are also Arabs) had achieved revolt on purely political lines, which drew Mo hammedans and Copts (Christians) to- gether against the British. Syrian na- f,L ctv lo r course, a course almost unbelievable in the light of previous religious bit- terness in Syria. The Lebanon began to waver in it's adherence to France, and the most severe measures of eoer- eion on the part of the French authori- ties failed to check it's movement into line with the growing Syrian nation alism which was centered at Syria's traditional capital, Damascus.
 When Feisal last came back from Paris he was unable to stem the flood in Syria. The British had no sooner withdrawn into Palestine. than bitter attacks on the part of the Syrian na- tionalist volunteers began to be launched against the French. Attacks by Mustapha Kemal's Turkish nation alists at Marash north of Cilicia fol- lowed. and less successful, but more constant, attacks followed at Urfa and Biredjik in Upper Mesopotamia. By the middle of February the French were on the point of being driven out of Syria and the Syrian nationalists were on the point of conquering their own coast line. Resentment was also growing against the secession of Pal estine from the rest of Syria and its delivery to the Zionists.
 It was on March that the Syrian congress at Damascus proclaimed Fei- sal King of Syria, and defined the in- dependent Arab state of Syria as all of Syria, including the Lebanon and Palestine. from the Amanus range to the Sinai desert. and also including Mesopotamia. |
 Doubtless Feisars acceptance of the Syrian crown has prevented the Syrian movement from falling into more ir responsible leadership. and 1t has at the same time given him a standing at Paris which the French have persisted in denying him. He insists that his new leadership will in no way affect his cordial relationship with his allies, but it has introduced new factor into that relationship. it will be difficult for the French longer to deny recogni- tion to the Pan-Syrian congress which is the head and shoulders of Syrian na- tionalism.
 Feisal himself is known to favor an indivisibie Syria and is believed to ad- vocate the employment of British and French advisers by the young Syrian government. He has now been sum moned to Paris again by the allies and upon his reception there, will depend the very far-reaching issues which lie wrapped up in the question of peace or war in Syria.
 tCopyright by the Edward Marshall