جميل مردم
A Syrian delegation was invited to Paris for independence talks that lasted from March–September 1936. The six man team was composed of four National Bloc representatives : Hashem el Atassi (President), Jamil Mardam Bey, Saadalla al-Jabri and Fares el Khouri. The remaining two were Amir Mustafa al Shihabi and Edmond Homsi. In exchange for independence and recognition as a member of the League of Nations (to be granted within 3 years of treaty ratification) France was given economic, and military privileges in Syria . The delegation returned to Syria in triumph and following a general election in November of that year, the National Bloc won a landslide victory. Atassi was elected president of the republic and he asked Jamil Mardam Bey to form a government. On December 27, the Syrian parliament ratified the treaty and it remained for the French to do the same.