The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-12-22
Thewdr7oddy

First I was introduced to
close friends of his, through a
mutual acquaintance who &C.
cupies an important position.
These friends after consulting
with his highness escorted me
to his mansion.
SPIRITUAL HEAD
Probably the greatest hold he
has on his people lies in the fact
that he Is spiritual head of the
Mohammedan sect which bears
his family name. His full name
is Sayid Mohammed Idris As
Senussi. and he Is a grandson
of the founder of the Senussi
sect - an order which sub
scribes to the simplicity of early
Mohammedan faith, and has a
large following both In Libya
and neighboring countries.
There is a widespread but
erroneous belief that "Senussi"
Is the name of a race or tribe.
When used generically 1t refers
only to the religious sect or its
followers. You and ! could be
Senussi if we adopted that
faith.
But about the Grand Senussi.
! suppose you won't be content
until l tell you he has the good
looks which romance assigns to
desert shieks. All right, he has
EN-. He is tall, slim, and has
the customary black beard and
mustache, neatly trimmed. He
wasn't on horseback when I saw
him, but they tell me he can
ride and shoot in story-book
style.
WEARS TURBAN
He was wearing a Moslem
turban and full-length coat over
silken robe. His only jewel
was a handsome green jade
ring which he wore on the lit
tie finger Of his slim right hand.
Presumably his treasure room
would show many priceless or
naments, however, for he Is a
man of great wealth and comes
from an old Arabian family.
Here in Cairo he lives ex-
tremely we'll. but without osten-
tation. AS head of the Senussi
sect, the Grand Senussi is ruled
over many of his people. He is
variously referred to as "emir,"
chief and prince.
I asked the Grand Senussi
what he thought of Mussolini's
assumption of the title of pro
tector of Islam"
His highness laughed.
MUSSOLINI STUPID
It's the sort of thing which
would only be done by a stupid
person like Mussolini," he said.
mo one could be protector of
Islam unless he embraced the
faith and was elevated to the
position of protector by his fol-
lowers. Every Moslem knows
that, and SO II Duce's title is as
empty as his head"
In view of the strategic i'm
portance of Libya / inquired
whether the Grand Senussi ex-
pected some sort of protector
ate to be established over his
country.
1--WE feel that we should have
our freedom first" he respond
ed. THE rest easily can be ar
ranged. We certainly shall need
guidance in our new state, and
we shall need help in develop
ing it. l recognize, too, the
necessity of all countries coop
Grating Loyalty in a postwar
rehabilitation of the world.
"Libyan troops which have
been fighting with the British
Eighth Army are a token of our
good faith. We want to do our
part for the Allied cause. We
are proud to be serving with
our British friends and we are
grateful, too, for the kindly pro-
lection which they are affording
our people in the terrible war
which is sweeping our country.
We shall not forget"
The Grand Senussi has hopes
for the broad development of
his country. Education of the
masses occupies an important
place in his ideas. He himself is