The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-07-25
Nations Fate In Balance
Lebanon Crisis Intensifies
Internal Power Struggle

said to believe such Illicit ac-
tivities can only serve to cause
a rift between the commune
ties.
The political situation is fur
Their complicated by the fact
that in the period following the
Suez crisis in the fall of 1856,
Lebanon's traditional neutrality
polarized into a pro-Western
camp, headed by the President,
and a pro-Egyptian one headed
by former Premier Saeb Salam.
Mr.. Glamour has been accused
on some sides of assuming a
strong pro-Western stand in or
der to gain Western backing for
his bid to hold on to the presi-
dency.
AS Mr. Glamour himself is a
Maronite the Maronite COM
munity was split in its allegi-
ances, and even some Maronite
bishops are known to disagree
with their Patriarch's political
Those not holding with the
Patriarch are known 10 be-
Iievs fhst the overriding is.
sues are not the internal sit.
uafion,, but Lebsnon's role In
The Easf.Wesf conflict and in
ths drive for MosIsm ascend
aney.
But the other Maronite bish-
ops have not publicly opposed
the stand of the Patriarch. Mel
Their have the leaders of the
dissident churches nor of the
other Catholic Rites. Massa-
chusetts-born Bishop Eustace
Smith, O.F.M., Latin Rite Vicar
Apostolic of Beirut, has made
no public statement.
But fhe Melkife Rite Pafri.
arch Of Antioch, Patriarch
Maximos w Saigh, who while
he has his winter residence
in Cairo and his summer one
in Damascus Is leader Of Lsb.
anon's second largest cafho-
lie community. has issued .
statement alisnins himself
with Patriarch Msovehi. Pssri.
arch Saish, who came here
sitter visiting Rome, said:
"Our leaders, partic ularly
those now in power, must ef-
|fectively understand that their
offices confer on them the obli-
CATION to put the general inter-
est Of the country before their
own private interests; that they
have been invested with their
powers to serve the country, not
so that the country shall be at
their service; further, that they
cannot for their own profit or
for the profit Of their support
ers exploit the forces and re-
sources of the country a. though
these were their own posses
sions."
The Mslkits Patri spsh's
statement, which esms near.
~ . month after The rebellion
broke cut, closed by saying
that Lebanon should always
pursue . policy Of complete
Independence, not fvsins with
any other country. but none.
fhsIsss maintaining The most
eordiai. relations with every
country in The world, and In
particular with The nsishbor.
ing Arab states"
A similar, if less explicit, call
was issued later by Bishop
Ephrem Jarjhour, Auxiliary to
the Syrian Rite Patriarch of
Antioch, Ignace Gabriel Cardi-
nal Tappouni. Bishop Jarjhour
made a radio address condemn
ing violence and "illegal rebel
lion," and urged all Lebanese
to "hold the concern OF Lebanon
above all personal considera-
tons, any kind Of selfishness,
and whatever may be prompted
solely from a spirit of clan"
Finally, the concern Of
Pope Plus himself over The
"~disssfrovs events borne for
some finns by The noble Lsb-
ansss nation" has twice been
: expressed publicly. The see.
ond sims was on July 5. when
the Apostolic Nvneio. Arch.
bishop Giuseppe BsIirami, Is
sued . statement saying that
The Pops was deeply wor.
risd" by the Lsbansss sitvs.
fion, and added: "His Holt
ness trusts that once The esvs-
% for diseerd and division Of
minds have bssn removed,
The desired tranquility will
return quickly 10 Lebanon"
Tho ~0unnfual n-rfooxnn az Aha