The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-08-29
Arab ci1a hdsr faasd. s.
-. Fpr Her Nativa LAad

! HAaa, Pala1ipe, Aus, 9s.--Nsspl
al Absd. aR ArSb Girl who played .
prominent part Ia 3omsnting thu -
volt against French rule IN Syria last
May, and wha latsr managed 10 a.
cape FROM prison where she was aerv.
ing . LIE Hpntenca, gave the repre-
sentative Of The Associated Press sai-
interview N which she ret forth her
reasons for the unpopularity of the
French mandate in the Near East.
The French Press" abe said, .ac-
cused Charles r. Crane, former Am
erican Minister to China, of being
the cause Of the disorders of last
May. This Ia absolutely false. The
disorders were the direct result oe
the Oppressive and offensive rule of
the mandatory power In Syria.
I'VE Syrian people,p she continued,
fare liberty loving, We pride our
selves on the fact that we are the in
telleotual and moral leaders OF all
the Arabs. Ia welcoming the French
army in 1913, we had hoped that
France would help Us realize our as
pirations for self-government. We
have been deceived, Instead of just
treatment, we find that our country
is occupied by black troops, who are
our interiors; our government turn
ed over to inexperienced French off,
cials, who try to govern by force,
and our leaders lodged in jails.
"In the face Of all these abuses"
she declared, ga nation can 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 great charm of manner. She
was born in Damascus of a wealthy
and Influential family. A mission
school provided her with an edu-
cation which seems to have instilled
into her heart the love Of country and
Of Independence.
During the war she served in the
Red Crescent, Turkish organization
similar to the American Red Cross.
Since 1919 she has been the accredit-
ed leader Of all the women organiza-
tions in Syria. Because of the par.
she played in organizing the demon
strations 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 a
short time, soon making her escape.
Asked If Syrial is prepared as yet
for independence Nazel al Abed re-
piled: Chose who know anything of
Syrian politics will admit that so far
the mandate system has proven an
absolute failure. On the one hand it
introduced fresh encroachments on
the sovereignty of. our beloved coun-
try in favor Of an i,nperialistic pow.
er, and on the other hand it brought
to US great social as well as CONNER
cial suffering, due to the separation
of Syria from her sister country
i1ss Ss ~ Il ss ! s,mpasimed tia. tn.
wd.l, and espScially America, is SO
i'll informed shout Syria. "The
French occupation" she asserted,
has been a curse instead of a bless
ing. We Syrian people today are
treated like slaves. We are forced
to accept French habits, French GUS
toms, French civilization and even
a French language, in spite Of our
selves. Is it any wonder that we re-
volted last May?
"All we ask now is to be left alone,
free to rebuild; our country in undis-
turbed quiet; free to live our life in
our own way, and to solve our prob
lens after our own manners. We
still hope that America will not fail
to help us realize our aspirations"