Evening star., 1926-05-31
SYRIAN PEACE DRIVE.
SOON, French VIEW.
Recently Reported Damascus
Battle Exaggerated, Says
DE Jouvenel by Wireless.
By the Associated Press.

By the Assoriated Press. ..
ALEXANDRIA. Egypt. May 81
Henry dc .Touvcnel, French high com
missioner to Syria. believes that peace
is coming to Syria, immediately and
unfailingly just as it has come to the
Riff. and he hopes with very little ad
ditional hloodshed.
He made this known to the Asso'
cisted Press correspondent in the
course of an interview obtained under
unusual circumstances. the talk being
carried entirely by wireless.
The steamer Sphinx, bearing the
high commissioner homeward to
France. left Alexandria at / O'Clock
SATURDAY. afternoon. The steamer
Pierre Lott. aboard which the Asso
ciated Press; correspondent was pro
cccding to Syria was then 200 miles
away. bound for Alexandria. At the
request Of the Associated Press, the
two vessels. belonging to the Messa
geres Naritimes OF France, got into
communication. and NJ. de Jouvenel
was requested to come to the wireless
room Of the sphinx. as tine correspond.
ent desired 10 ask him a few ques.
tions.
Asked About His Return.
The wireless of the Pierre Lott
pick cd up ha sphinx less han 60 miles
away. and what is believed to he the
first complete absolute wireless in
tcrNiew Of statesman by news
paper man began.
"WhN arc YOU returning to Paris
at this stage 'T affairs in Syria ?" the
corrospondcnt Que"i",'. Tie wireless
spelled ont tho reply.
81 am returning to France because
I consider M danger is passed. the
war is finished; that submission and
surrender "f the Druse TribeSnen are
progressing along the lines of a reg
Ularlv ordained schedule: that few
bands arc left in the field. and hence.
forth they ar" poWerjess to create
disorders on large scale. They prob
ebiY will do much less shooting than
generally is seen in an American wild
West film"
"What did exactly take place in
Damascus on May CO" was the next
question.
Rebels Attack Fooled.
'"rhe hope the rebels had of Great
ing diversion TO our victory at
Souzida by a surprise attack on
Damascus" he replied; twas frus-
trated by the rapidity with which we
rebel chiefs. taking advantage of the
departure of honest. peaceful in.
habitantS, and seeking refuge within
the walls of Dana sous. Transformed
every hut and mudhouse of that DESC
late quarter Just outside the city into
reritahle arsenal. containing hand
Grenades. rifles and ammunition
"lf eight daxs after the :affaire de
Midan. tAc crowd in Damascus car.
ried me or thoir shoulders in triumph
through The city, it doubtless was be-
cause the program of new Syria salts
fed the population's hopes. 1t was
also because popular instinct was
grateful to us for having spared them
misfortunes and hardship which
would have visited them had we
adopted . passive attitude and let
the bands enter Damascus as they did
in October. l. was q, choice between
the Midan quarter and Damascus,
ana We chose to protect Dana ascus. ~
The correspondent then asked:
Won speak Of victory at Souzida.
- What We're the casualties of the
= French troops; was the resistance
stubborn"
Will Report to War Chief.
There was silence for several min
Sahuc, told the correspondent:
My comrade, Luciani aboard the
Sphinx, says the high commissioner
appears puzzled by the last query.
He is puckering UP his brow, and
Will reply in a few minutes
Suddenly came the commissioner
reply:
Il am making a report to the min.
lister of war concerning the Souzida
operation. War Minister Painleve
will give ont information to the press
on that subject if he sees fit"
care YOU satisfied with the elections
In fsehanon?' was the next question,
and the answer came:
Lebanon voted it's constitution.
elected it's president with una nimity
amonc the members Of the Chamber
and Senate, composed of Christ ians,
Moslems and Druses. Thus, it is
proved that harmony is possible be-
tween the various tribesmen and re-
ligious denominations. heretofore en-
gagged in a continual bitter struggle. -
(The Druses. although numbering
fewer than $4,000 in Lebanon, among
n population of more than 10000,
have always heen masters Of the situ-
alton. refusing to collaborate with
other elements in the affairs of the
GUILTY. ana ttiltSI1IlU5 themselves
with imposing their own will by force
of arms).
Believes Peace Is Near
The last question put to NJ. de
Jouyenal was. What about the gov
ernment in Syria?'
''Syria today has n national gov
ernment, composed of so per cent
moderates and patriots, and SO per
cent former revolutionaries. They
have succeeded in reaching an accord
among themselves and l believe their
program will be realized.
tfOne of the aims, of my voyage to
France .is to inform the government
and Parliament on the results of my
investigation in Syria, which 1 made
as French senator and delegate Of the
League of Nations"
The high commissioner words of
leaNe-taking We're:
'iBut / am getting hungry. Good
night and good appetite"
Then. as the correspondent emerged
from the stuffy wireless room of the
Pierre Lott, right there to the star
board, less than half a mile away,
tho Sphinx, ablaze with light, was
speeding by. She gradually disap-
peared over the northern horizon.