San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-01

regime.
Before Frances occupa-
ton we had established a
provisional government, l
acting az foreign minister. An orderly
government was functioning, uniting,
for the first time. the Christian Arab
With his Moslem-Arab brother.
i myself, q product Of American
schools in Syria, a graduate OF
Scottish university, with Protestant
inclinations, was invited by my
INCIDENTALLY brothers to share the re
soousibiIity of governing Syria with
Christian-Moslem cooperation.
DECLARED OUTLAWS
But no sooner had the French mil
itary occupation begun than the mem,
bes of the provisional government
were declared outlaws.
We asked the French command TO
permit the people of Syria to form
democratic government under super
vision of French political officials.
The French military answer was 10
put the entire Syrian proyisionil
royerrnent under arrest /, myself.
sharing n cell with common felons
for weeks, until ] escaped with other
eompstriots.
For months thereafter We made
every possible attempt 70 bring home
to the French officials (snd even ap-
pealed over their heads 10 Paris),
that if France wanted TO succeed IN
governing Syria as a mandate power
she would have to employ other means
than brutal force.
APPEALS UNHEEDED.
An our appeals and protestations
were termed reasonable utterances.
France, unmindful Of the feelings OF
the natives, continued the policy Of
ruthless force.
The sentiment Of the Arab was fin
ally outraged when the French mill
tary commander billetted African
blacks in our towns and hamlets, de-
manding that each section contribute
its quota of women. There was only
one weapon 10 which the Arab could
resort-rebellion.
- France next tried TO incife the
Christian Arabs against the Moslems.
No expense was spared in furnishing
this fiendish propaganda, but il
failed.
The Christian-Arsb Joined IN sol
idarity with his brother. the Moslenn-
Arab. France, nevertheless, succeed
ed In inducing the native Armeniars
of Syria as well as those Armenians
who had taken refuge In our country
when they escaped from the hands OF
the Turks to raise violent hands
against the Arabs.
AROUSES ARsfENIANs.
France gathered over 10000 Of
these misguided Armenians, organ
lied them into bands. and. after arous.
ing, through paid orators. fanatical
religious enthusiasm, let them loose
among the Arabs.
say, feelingly, that these misguided
Armenians became maraudine bands,
from twenty-five to one hundred and
fifty men in each band, who marched
from town 70 town. city 10 city, com
uniting unnamable and unspeakable
violence upon the people who had
only q short time previous been hosts
70 them when they were driven out
VI t44clE uOmtl6nIe py TIC VI hts
I do not blame these Armenians,
because they were told that The
Christian-Arabe and Moslems were
about TO repeat the atrocities Of the
Turks against the Armenians.
PROPAGANDA STRONG.
Tor months worked among these
people attempting to show them that
they were, by their acts, committing
suicide and that France was only
using them in order 10 divide the
country and rule it.
/ had succeeded in convincing many
4 these Armenian Christians that tht
b-Moslems had no sinister designs
Ipon them, and that what they wanted
iEas some sort of autonomy undei
France. But persistent French
Propaganda 10 the contrary rendered
ny labor futile.
France, unlike England, rcsorted {,
mother well-known colonial policy O
exploitation. peculiar 10 herself.
No British colonial officer is per
Ditted to be interested directly or in
iirectly in any company, venture, o
exploitation scheme in the countr!
sver which they rule. France
colonial policy, 20 the contrary, i
an exploitation policy in which, il
addition TO her civilians and politi
rians, the very military commander
may participate.
PRIVATE EXPLOITATION.
In other words, General Sarrail an
his officers considered Syria as a fiel,
10 further their own private exploits
ton.
simultaneously with the French oc
cupafinn Of SYRIA, numerous Frenc