Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-31
ARAB GIRL MAKES
PLEA FOR SYRIA

Haifa, Palestine.-Nazel al Abed,
an Arab girl who played q prominent
part in fomenting the revolt. against
French rule In Syria last May, Aand
who later managed to escape from
prison where h was serving a life
sentence, gave the representative of
The Associated Press an interview in
which she set forth her reasons for
the unpopularity Of the French man
date in the Near East.
THE French press she said. "ac-
cused Charles r. Crane, former
American minister to China, of be-
ing-the cause Of the disorders of last
May. This Is absolutely false. The
disorders were the direct result Of the
oppressive and offensive ruleNof the
mandatory. power in Syria.
I'VE Syrian people," she continued,
ARE liberty loving. We pride our-
selves on the fact that we are the in
tellectual and moral leaders Of all the
Arabs. In welcoming the French
army in 1918, we had hoped that
France would help us realize our as
pirations for self-government. We
have been deceived. Inatead of just
treatment, we find that our country is
occupied by black troops. who are u
Interiors; our government turned over
to inexperienced French officials, who
try to govern by force, and u cad
ers lodged in jails.
I'm the face of all these abuses"
she declared, "a nation a do no less
than revolt and rid itself OF the yoke
of the oppressor."
Nazel al Abed is about 80 years of
age, of commanding personality and
With a great charm Of manner. She
vas born in Damascus of a wealthy
and influential family. A omission
school provided her with an educa-
| ton which~seems to have instilled in
to her heart the Loves Of country and
Of independence.
During the war she served in the
Red Crescent, a Turkish organization
similar to the American Red Cross,
Since 1919 she has been the aceredit-
tions in Syria. Because Of the part
she played in organizing the demon
STATIONS in Damascus last May
which resulted In great disorders and
bloodshed, she was arrested and con-
demned to life Imprisonment. She
remained in prison, however, but g
short time. soon making her escape.
Independence Nazel al Abed replied;
Those who know anything Of. Syrian
politics will admit that SO TAR the
mandate system has pfoven an abso.
lutte failure. On the one hand it in
troduced fresh entertainments On the
sovereignty Of our beloved country ir
favor of ar im%perialistic power ant
on the other hand it brought to u.
great social as we'll as Commercial
suffering, due to the separation o:
Syria from her sister country Pales
inc" ...
Nazel al Abed complained that tn,
world. and especially America, is 81
Ill informed about Syria. 18th,
French occupation" she asserted
has been a curse instead OF a bless
ing. We Syrian people today ar,
treated like slaves. We are forces
to accept French habits, French Gus
toms, a French Civilization and evel
a French language III spite OF OUR
selves. Is It any wonder that We Re
volted asst May?
{ "All we ask now IL to be left alone
free to rebuild u country in undis
turbed quiet: free to live our life l.
our own way. and to solve our prob
i, lens after u own manners. w
still hope that America will not IA
to help US realize our aspirations"