Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-26
IlR|SC cant VERIFY
REPORT ON CRANE.
Aanerlcan Plans to Sail From
France June 3 Despite Al
legged Jail Sentence
DOUBTS VERDICT IN SYRIA
By the Associated Press

Paris, May 28.---The French foreign
e@ce has no knowledge Of the reported
cenviction Of Charles r. Crane, former
American Minister to China. BY q
French military court in Damascus. on
. charge Of melting riot. as reported
In press dispatches. 1t was stated today.
''injudicious talk by MIR. Crane.
foreign Office officials said. but up to
the present moment they had no in
formation regarding any condemnation:
Mr.. Crane, who is now In Paris, said
be was confident the report Of his con.
viction was an error. He plans to sail
10 New York on June 8. In explaining
his visit to Syria Mr.. Crane said: !
"My reception by the people OF
Damascus was entirely friendly. They !
asked why their wishes. made known
to the committee on mandates IN Iur.
key three years ago. never had been
heard from. They said that since that
time, on account of severe French cen
sorship, they had not been able to make
their voice heard by the outside world.
Whatever demonstration they made
was to make me understand that their
feelings against the French mandate
were stronger than ever. They hoped l
could get their message out.
There was no rioting but such dem
onstrations were Of daily occurrence on
the streets OF Cairo. The British did
not lose their heads. The French chief
Of police, however native who has
been terrorizing Damascus ever since
the French occupied it. made capital
out Of such demonstrations and used
machine guns on unarmed people, and
some Of the leading men OF Damascus
were sent to long terms in prison with
out trial.
"All these incidents were foreseen
and indicated in the report on man
dates, and great injustice has been done
both to the Syrians and to conserva-
tive French people. al we'll as to our
own missionaries and educators, by the
suppression Of that report by our State
Department.
"I myself have had no disagreeable
experiences with French officials either
In Damascus or here.
''Since my return to Paris three days
ago." said Mr.. Crane, II have been
very cordially received by many mem
bers of the French Senate and others
the slightest indication that any action
has been taken or is contemplated
against me. However. it would not
surprise me II the military authorities
Of Syria were much aroused over the
popularity of the United States
throughout Syria. and they might show
resentment by military action against
me. I visited Syria for three days dur
ing the first week In April for the pur-
pose of observing what had taken place
since ] was sent there in 1910 BY Pres
3dent Wilson to report on the situation.
confirmed the conclusions which were
contained in my report to President
Wilson.
''As I was leaving Damascus thou
sands of Syrians gathered around the
car, sang their national anthem and
cheered the United States. The next
day there were many arrests. but it Is
not true the French military authorities
asked me to leave the country or threat
ened to arrest me.
II was in Syria solely rs a private
citizen, and / do not represent the
United States Government or American
missionary interests In Syria. / am
deeply interested in the outcome of the
Syrian question. American missionary
interests have invested $4,000, 900 in
schools and in other ways in Syria. and
to this extent America Is concerna with
he problem.
Il told the Syrian officials and others
that l was there as a private American
citizen and had no commission from the
American Government" Mr.. Crane
thought the reported sentence. If true.
would not apply In france and said he
vas planning to sail for New York
on the AQuitania June 3.
In an earlier interview Mr.. Crane
said he was making an effort to do
something regarding the Syrian situ-
alton and that he intended working
along the same lines in London"