Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-07-31
LEBANON

Continued From FIRST rage
began. Each Deputy cast his
vote as hts name was called. n
Immediately after the vote
Parliament Speaker Abel os-
seiran called on Gen. Shehab'
and informed him of his cleo
ton. ID
Gen. shehab,s, election viii
not automatically solve the
strife which in 50 days has
brought this Riviera Of the
Middle East TO- the brink OF
economic ruin and resulted in
the landing of 10000 United
States troops in Beirut.
But observers felt the gen.
erals taking control could pro-
vide q breathing spell during
which peace and order might be
restored. There was an atmos-
phere Of hope and expectancy
among the Lehanese people.
who have lived amid intermit-
tent bombing and shooting for
almost three months.
Both rebels and government
supporters appeared tired O,
the struggle. r. 81
sesurity Troops ON Guard 2
The heart of Beirut around
tina fiatiron shaped. beige Par
lament building was sealed on
by security troops as deputies
gathered for the election. A
curfew was in effect in the area.
Even holders of gun licenses
were forbidden to carry weap-
ons in the area. and deputies
we're warned their cars would
be searched.
The deputies were slow In
assembling, and a quorum was
not on hand in the chamber
until 90 minutes after the
scheduled starting time Of the
session.
Among those who finally an
swered the roll call were For
eign Minister Charles Malik,
who had hurried home from
New York and Washington for
the election; other government
members, and q number Of OPP
position deputies.
Mr.. EDDIE. head Of the ma
tienal bloc who had tried with
out success to negotiate q
political peace earlier, had
claimed control Of at least one
third Of Parliament's votes, but
observers never expected him
to come close 10 election.
on the first ballot Gen. She
hab fell only one vote Short
Of the two-thirds majority re-
CURED for election In the initial
round. Thereafter only q simple
majority was required, but his
second-ballot victory was de-
cisive.
THE deputies broke into
cheers at the announcement Of
the winning vote. Mr.. EDDIE
ak once went over TO congratu-
late the victor.
by agreement in his half
Christian, half-Moslem nation
oils million people. the Presi-
dent Is a Christian and the
premier is a Mosleri to MAIN
tain a balance between the re-
hgions.
Gen. Shehab belongs to the
Maronite sect of the Roman
Catholic Church. but is re-
Spected by both, religious
groups. He could use the title
sprince" as a descendant Of a
heroic family which ruled Le-
banon for the Ottoman Turks
n the 18th Century,
Gen. Shehab faces q tough
Job that will severely try his
long experience at steering
down the middle of the road.
On one side are the hackers
o. Mr.. Glamour, who. after
he became President in 1852.
abandoned q policy Of neutral
ity to line UP with the West
IN the Eisenhower Doctrine.
Although this side contains
both Christians and Moslems
"a the religiousiy split nation.
Christian leaders predominant.
on the other side is the
National Front. whose chief
spokesman is former Premier
Saeb Salani. q leader Of the
REBELLION from his fortress
home in Beirut's Basta Moslenl
kliarter. The rebels mostly
tEoslem leadership favorS neu-I
tfhlity to prevent Lebanon'sI
beng split from the rest Of
tlie neutral Mosiem Arab
world,
Some Of the rebels indorse
United Arab Republic Presi-i
cent Nasser's brand Of neu-
raliSEn, which is hostile to the
Vest, but there does not ap-.
pear to be strong sentiment
tor merging Lebanon with
NE UAR.