Evening star., 1922-08-13
SYR|ANS FRETFUL
OF FRENCH RULE
Little Freedom of Speech,
But Plenty of Taxes
Their Complaint.
VENGEANCE DAILY CRY
'sWho Was Arrested Last Night Z"
Popular Morning Greeting,
Says Correspondent.
VENGEANCE DAILY CRY
BY JUNIUS b. WOOD.

tspecial Correspondence of The !. Star and
Chicago Daily News Foreign Service.f
DAMASCUS, Syria, June 1.-"Who
was arrested last night?" will
there be demonstration today"
These are the regular morning greet
ings in this city, the capital and
metropolis of Syria. Espionage. in
limitation and vengeance are the or
der of the day. The Syrian who voices
disapproval of any portion of the
French policy-and practically all ex-
Cept those who are personally benefit
ing for the time being are opposed
to it-faces Imprisonment or deporta-
ton. In the two years that French
authority has been over the country
it has succeeded in antagonizing for
eigners as well as natives. French
officials explain that it is because
the others do not understand liberty
, and democracy.
France has applied colonial policy
to Syria. Gen. Gouraud, picturesque
soldier. and proficient in subduing the
wild tribes of Africa, is head of the
high commission and ruler. Many of
the host of officials saddled on the
country have had their experience
in African colonies. However, Syria
with a civilization older than that of
France. known as the cradle of
religions, the land of Moses, Christ
and Mohammed. has different people
from those in the tribes of Africa
Recently France has realized the diff
ference, and insists that conditions
will be satisfactory in the future,
though there is little in the past or
present to indicate that they will be.
Under the league of nations Syria
ranks as a class A mandate, and the
populations wishes must be consult
ed as to the mandatory power. The
council of the league will be asked
on July 10 to confirm Frances man.
date, but there is no intention of con-
sulting the people.
Syria Ruined Economically.
For thirty years, Syria, including
the Grand Lebanon. the politically in
dependent mountainous district be-
tween Damascus and the sea, has been
an importing country. Syrians who
had gone to North and South Ameri-
ca to find wealth supported their
families and relatives In Syria, ex-
pecting to return themselves. Since
tthe war this has changed. Damascus
was the great distribution center for
the Arab people, caravans radiating
to the north, east and south daily.
: This also has changed under the
mandate. Palestine has been cut off
as mandate for Great Britain. On
the north France returned Cilicia to
. Turkey. Transjordania has an in
dependent government under Emir
Abdullah. Between them and what
little remains of Syria are customs
barriers. On the east the desert Bed
ouins are fighting with the French,
and the Sheriffian Arabs from Ell
Hadjaz and Mesopotamia, now named
Irak. no longer bring. their caravans
to Damascus, fearing that they will
be arrested as spies. Economically
Syria. as divided under the mandates.
has lost both hands, and feet.
BY the conditions of commerce,
races and religions, established
through the centuries. there is room
for only one mandate on the eastern
shore of the Mediterranean. How
ever, since Great Britain had q man
date there France must have one. But.
Great Britain has administered her
mandate with business foresight,
while the French policy has been
fnore for the superficial glorification
of the officials on the ground and
the exclusive profit OF France. The
latter is impossible in the present
undeveloped state of the country.
aside from few military roads. in
eluding an ornamental bridge-buiit
at a scandalous profit to the con-
tractor and some ofdcers-and Sec