Evening star., 1949-05-02
Communists Of Near East
Divided Int Factions

Re he Editnr Il yss sta.;
In many areas OF the world communism
Is facing q variety of upsusgings. dlSSenslons
and internal differences These differences
become visual as the Communists are IN
power or are accorded the freedom OF po-
litieal action. In the Arab world the various
Communist organizations are denied the
liberty TO function as political parties.
Though underground. their activities espe-
cially among Arab refugees have been re-
markedly successful. Communists IN TIE
past welded influence much out OF pro-
portion 10 their actual number. They con-
trolled the trade union movement IN syria
and Lebanon. the Armenian and kurd
minorities and the radical movement among
students and intellectuais in Egypt and 1gaq,
They have allied themselves with the Arab
nationalists in their struggle against Brit
ish imperialism. During the war. the Com
munists in Syria and Lebanon worked
openly AS the Red armies were marching
VIGOROUSLY. the Communists increased in
number and they gained many sympathiZers.
In 1914 they reached the climax OF their
power. Beirut capital OF Lebanon be-
came the center OF Communist activities IN
the Near East. Their titular leader Is Kalid
Biedash, a handsome 38-year-oid MOSCOW
trained Communist, who is considered one
OF. the greatest Arab orators OF modern times.
With him are many intellectuals who have
aided the growth OF the party, among STU
dent and nationalist groups. among them
being Kadri Kalaaji a writer. whose books
are widely read and whose short stories and
political essays are very popular Rsif koury.
though tas he claims not a member OF the
party has concentrated on the achievements
of the Soviet system and It's progressive
role In international affairs: and Nieilo!a
Shawl. editor of Sawt al Shaab Voice OF
the People, and secretary of the Commu-
mist Party.
Some Leaders Sincere Men.
Before and during the war. the above
mentioned were considered the leading f1g-
ures of the Arab Communists with Wash
al Banni and Abdul Kadar el Jalil, the sole
deputy in the Iraa parliament ever to De
elected on a Communist ticket These men
are shrewd and determined. intelligent and
several of them very sincere. When the
party clubs were closed and permission TO
operate was withheld, outstanding Commu-
nists went underground or were imprisoned.
Mustafa al ArisS who was an important put
surely not leading figure among the Com
munists maintained his position as CHAIR
man of the trade unions in Lebanon. AT the
Paris meeting Of the WFTU. he was elected
the Near and Middle East representative on
the Executive Council. From then on Mr..
Ariss a slim. tall, nervous. Longtime
Journalist and loyal party worker. began TO
rise in the Communist galaxy until he over
shadowed many Of the former leaders. In
the past two years. he has heard complaints
from the workers in Iran inspected labor
conditions In Syria and Egypt and visited
Moscow twice. When the UNESCO was
holding its annual conference in Beirut last
December. MI Ariss was arrested. then re-
leased on protestation OF the UNESCO IN
which he was the official representative OF
the WITH.
The Arab setback in Palestine on the
diplomatic and military fronts has led to
considered incompatible and confidence was
lost in those who managed the battle. The
focusing of Arab nationalism on the Pales-
tine problem resulted in the loss Of perspec-
tive on the other issues which confronted
the Arab people
One would wonder why the Communists
in the Arab world haven't started revou-
tionary action. A logical answer would De
that the Anglo-American influence Is TOO
strong. But the real answer is that the Com
munst leadership Is split. with two factions
struggling for ascendancy The intellectuals.
such as Raft Koury Farjalla el Helon and
Others believe that they should control the
destiny and direct the activities OF COM
munism in the Arab world. They argue. ana
rightly so. that they were the flrst to organize
the party; they were the ones who made the
Communist party an active participant IN
nationalist affairs. thus preventing any sus-
picion to arise Of their sincerity. Their
earlier and cultural influence prevented the
isolation Of the party from the masses.
Labor Element Wants Power.
The labor element in the Communist
leadership insists. most probably with back
ing from Moscow, that they provide the di-
rection for future Communist operations.
They argue that the workers provide the
bulk of the membership OF the party and
that the masses of underprivileged are more
responsive to those whom they think are
identical to them in stature. The leaders Of
this group are Mustafa ell Ariss and Nicholas
Shawl and leaders Of the Armenian Com
munists and the Arab Communists in Pales-
tine. Kalid Biedash. who Is the leader OF all
Arab Communists. is the conciliator. but
leans to the latter group, maybe because he
knows that they are Moscow favorites.
It will not be too long. think. until the in
sellectuals and progresSiyes among Arab Com
munists will realize that the Communist
party betrayed the ideals they supposedly
Joined and formed the party for. Many
were and still are sincere. anti-imperialists
and good liberals They formed the Com
munist Party when communism was pre-
colonialism and reaction. As the Commun-
lists in the Arab world become more and
more controlled by professional Communist
agents. these men will sever their relations
with them to join the healthy progressive
forces In the Arab world which are In pro-
cess Of reorganization. This inner struggle
in the Communist leadership would deter
mine the future Of this philosophy In Allahs
world. CLOVIS McSOUD
National Security
Seen Out Of Balance
To the Editor Of The star:
If important vacancies of the type occur
ring in the armed services of our Nation were
noted in some other country. We would won-
der. and with reason. what Is happening. In
our humble opinion. national military
establishment cannot function adequately
with several of the principal secretaries out