Evening star., 1920-01-08

The possibility that the holy war
narrowly averted at the beginning OF
the world conflict, may yet he ordered
by the leader Of the Moslem Church
with its terrible consequences to tn.
entire world. was painly admitted
by Mrs \. J.. Fisher. honorary cap
tain in the Arabian army, in an al
dress delivered before the Twenti.ta
Century Club meeting this moruiur
in the assemly hall of the Cosm".
Club.
staff of Amir Faisal, who is IT,.
unanimous choice for ruler of the i'm
habitants of what is, potential
united Syria. and who is the son 80
Hussein. King of the Hedjaz ana
sheerif of Mecca whose infuenrr
averted the holy war fomented ts
Germany a few years ago
After sketching for the benefit ~
the club members and guests the po-
litical and military steps that led up
to the situation in which the Ara
bians now find themselves. Mrs. Fishc"
stated that the question of a united
Syria is today before the Paris con
ference.
Means Life or Death.
The way the conference handl
the nationalistic aspirations of I'll"
Arabians, she pointed out. Will spc'i
life or death for their country. II
the sheriff of Mecca. spiritual head Of
the Moslem Church. with its rami-
fications in the colonies of almost
every great power. sends forth to MS
adherents the word that his church lS
betrayed and sighted, the entire Mo-
lem world is almost sure to rise. III a
holy war comes, all nations must, dl-
rectly or indirectly, be involved, am
the consequences are terrible to con-
template.
The United States is the one coun-
try that, through the use of its moral
influence. can prevent the tragedy
that would ensue should the confer
ence. as now seems likely. betray the
Arabians who helped make the allied
Palestine campaign success. Such
influence must be used particularly
with France. she said, the country TO
which Britain and other nations have
deferred in the matter of influence IN
the near east. If more friction ensu"S
between France and Syria the latter
will be wiped out as a nation, and
this owing to the fine national spirit
of the Arabs, would prove catas-
trophe not only to the near east. hut
to the world generally.
Held Superior Race.
.The Arabians are a race superior
to the Persians, the Egyptians, the
Turks whose sultan. as caliph, found
r
of Mecca in his attempt to embroli
the enemies of the central powers IN
a holy conflict. and, in TACT. 20 any
other race in the near east. SAID Mrs.
Fisher. Their thirst for and appre-
citation of education is astounding.
An Arab youth VIII sit up all night
to study \ majority of the men
sneak another language in addition
to Arabic. and the women, also in
telligent. are constantly striving To
reassume the status of equality with
their men-folk that was theirs when
SYRIA was great power.
THE Arabs are antagonistic to the
French; they have little faith in the
capacity of the Latin races for admin
istration outside their own boundaries.
They are beginning to have the feeliu=
that thev have been used and east aside.
They want no money. They have -four
cities, but no port. and this they mus
have in order to support themselves by
their own resources They embody =
spirit of which there is none too muc'i
in The world America has done mole
for them through educational measure
than any other nation, but it must d0
yet more.
VIII Return to Syria.
Todav's addres was the first cvr"
delivered BY Mrs. Fisher. who ap-
peared in her Arabian uniform as al
officer of Arabian cavalry. She l. "u
leave Of absence in this country be
fore resuming her Iabors in Syria,
where she serves as directriX OF tho
Damascus Orphanage under Prime"
Faisal King HuSsein, the latterS
father. spiritual and. TO some extent.
temporal head of the Moslem Church.
she characterizes as "one of the most
spectacular allies of righteousness the
world war produced.
The usual business meeting pre-
cefcd the address of the day. which
was followed by a buffet luncheon.