The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-11-07

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~ groans of the victims of French
imperialism have become transformed
into fierce imprecations that strike re:
sponsive chords in every part Of the
vastness of the Mohammedam world.
Tens of thousands have been murder
ed within a few days time. The city
that thru the ages has stood as the
pride and glory of the world of Islam,
situated between east and west, whose
streets have responded to the tread
OF many conQuerors and countless ge-
nerations, lies again at the feet of
conqueror.
In its time Damascus has been I'M
der the domination successfully of
Hebrews, Assyrians, Persians, Macedo-
mans, Romans, Saracens and Turks.
But thru all the ages it has never wit
messed such fiendish excuses as are
practiced by the French of today.
PY virtue of the treaty of Versailles
- the French vandals roam the high
ways of Syria The very presence of
French forces in that territory brands
the conspiracy at Versailles, where
those ancient buzzards of imperialism
Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau,
Orlando-intoned sombre sentences
about democracy, liberty, self-determ-
ination of nations, CHASTITY lie., The
Syrians believed the soft words of the
imperialist nations When beautiful
pictures of self-determination, of free
dom for all forever, were presented to
them, they believed them. At the close
of the war general elections for a
/ congress were held. This congress
met in Damascus and proclaimed an
Independent Syrian government. In
spite of this decision, the imperialist
designs of Britain and France decreed
otherwise. Britain secured mandates
over territory rich in oil and of stra-
tegic advantages in maintaining her
far flung colonial empire. Among
other considerations France secured
the mandate over Syria.
DETWEEN March, 1921, and August
- 1925, there we're nine uprising in
Damascus that had to be put down
by force Of arms. In September, 1928,
the Syrians boycotted the fake cleo
tions arranged by the French and in
sisted that the mandate had no justi-
fcation under the terms of the treaty
of Versailles.
When the French mandate was
granted and the military occupation
began, the duly elected government
of Syria was declared band of out
laws. A request was then made to
permit the forming of provisional
government under supervision of
French political officials, and with
drawal of the military power. This
was considered a piece of impudence
by the French-bandits and the entire
government was arrested and thrown
In Jail.
LIVERY appeal was held in open con-
IL tempt and those who dared raise
their voices, even to protest violation
of the treaty, were accused of treason.
Brute force alone prevailed.
Unspeakable indignities we're heap
ed upon the population. General Ser
rail, the French high commissioner
and his underlings, outraged every
section of Damascus and preyed upon
the whole countryside. Troops OF
semisavages from the most backward
French colonies were encamped with
in the city and. in order to keep them
peaceful, brothels were established
for their amusement and each section
of the city was forced to furnish it's
quota Of women for this purpose.
In addition to this frightfulness a
number Of male relatives of these
victims were tortured to death by the
soldiery because they were caught
endeavoring to impart their know
ledge of conditions to travellers. There
could be but one answer to this ter
ror--armed revolt.