Evening star., 1951-11-30
Syria May Call New
Elections After Coup
0usting Pro-Red
BY the Associated Press

CAIRO. Nov. 30.-Syria's Par
lament may be dissolved and new
elections called as result Of the
country's swift military coup, re-
ports reaching here indicated to-
day.
Accounts published here esti-
mated that from AZ to Sc Syrian
politicians were arrested in yes
terday's bloodless shakeup led by
Syria's military strong man, 1t.
Col Adib Shishekly.
Among those arrested were the
new pro-Russian Premier, Popu-
list Party Leader Marouf Dawal-
ihi, and most of his predomi-
nantly Populist cabinet. The ar
rests apparently cut deep into the
ranks of Parliament, in which the
Populist Party has the largest
membership. although 1t does not
hold majority.
The army seized control less
than "a hours after Mr.. Dawalibi
was named Premier by Syrian
President Hachem el Attassi.
President Ell Attassi, who is
about IS. has been the figurehead
chief of Syria since three sue
cessive military coups led by
Shishekly in 1949 disrupted the
civil government.
Would Gain Friends.
Observers here anticipated that
Col. Shishekly and the military
group supporting him now might
push for new elections in an effort
to secure parliament with fewer
PopulistS and more members
friendly to the army's ideas.
Dispatches last night from
Beirut quoted informed circles as
saying the coup was touched off |
by a row over the important de-
tense minister's post, which Pre-
mler Dawalibi retained for him.
self.
The army always has insisted
on keeping its own man in the
defense post and Gen. Dawalibi
has insisted that the army clear
out of politics.
The British-owned Arab News
Agency reported from Beirut,
Lebanon, outside listening post
close to the Syrian capital-that /
President Ell Attassi has threat
ened to quit.
Earlier a spokesman for Col.
6hishekly, in a press report re-
ceived in Beirut. denied that yes
terday's action was a coup and
claimed the situation is now in
the hands" of President Ell Attassi,
who is titular commander of the
Syrian Army. AS chief of staff.
Col. Shishekly actually directs the
army
Seek Legality for Coup.
A dispatch from Damascus said
President Ell Attassi is seeking a
basis of constitutional legality for
the coup and that parliamentary
committee is trying to mediate the
latest crisis by getting Gen. Da-
walibi to go through the formality
of resigning.
II Gen. Dawalibi yields, it is ex-
pected some one outside Parlia-
ment will be asked to form a new
government. Former Premier
Khaled Bey el Azem has been
mentioned as possibility.
Col. Shishekly in a communique
yesterday charged the ,Populists
with keeping the country in tur-
mol, trying to break up the army
and seeking to foster the move to
unite republican Syria and Iraq
under the latter's ruling Hashemite
dynasty
May Be Gain for West.
Western observers here believe
the new coup may prove advan-
tageous to the West. despite the
added unrest it brings to the mud
died Middle East picture.
They feel that at best the Da-
walibl government would have
steered a neutral course in the
East-West dispute and possibly
might have sought closer ties with
the Soviet Union, a policy Dawilibi
has been pushing for two years.
Col Sishekly has been nom
committal on the question of Arab
participation in the Western
sponsored Middle East command,
but observers believe that if it
came to a showdown Shishekly's
sympathies would line him up with
the Western democracies against
communism.
They also feel. however, that he
will avoid committing Syria to the
Western defense plan at this time,
as it would embarrass Syria's posi-
ton with other Arab states-par-
ticularly Egypt. which is strongly
onnnSed IN S1Ich an alliance