Coll 6/17 'Syria: Political situation in Syria' [‎39r] (77/180)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OIHHIS BRITANTTTC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Syria).
CONFIDENTIAL.
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June 28, 1932.
Section 1.
[E 3223/171/89] No. 1.
Consul Hole to Sir John Simon.—{Received June 28.)
(No. 44. Confidential.)
Sir, Damascus, June 8, 1932.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 35 of the 7th May, on political events in
Syria, and with particular reference to paragraph 5, I have the honour to report
that the first session of the new Parliament took place yesterday.
2. The Deputies were summoned by a decree dated the 2nd June, to meet
in extraordinary session on the 7th June, and the agenda laid down exactly:
Firstly, election of officials, secondly, election of the President of the Republic,
thirdly, approval of the elections of Deputies, and, finally, determination of
salaries of the President of the Republic and the Deputies. This business
completed, the session to be closed.
3. The Deputies from Aleppo were confined to their hotels, ostensibly as a
measure of protection, and every precaution was taken to prevent popular mani
festations or disturbances. The military authorities took charge of public
security.
4. The session opened at about 9 a.m.; a large number of notables had been
invited to attend, but no invitation was extended to foreign representatives.
5. The High Commissioner's delegate and M. Helleu of the High
Commissioner’s immediate staff were present with a number of other French
officials. The text of the decree convening the Parliament was read, and the
oldest Deputy, Mohamed Adali of Antioch, assumed the functions of President.
Fakhri Raroudi called on the assembly to observe two minutes’ silence in memory
of Fozi-el-Ghazi (paragraph 3 of my despatch No. 27 of the 29th April, 1930), the
author of the Constitution. He then asserted the right of the Deputies to act
according to their conscience without fear of external influences. Shaker
Nimat Shabani (Aleppo) expressed his agreement.
6. The Acting President then endeavoured to proceed to business, when
Zeki-el-Khatib (Damascus) commenced a long oration, and continued to speak in
spite of the President’s injunctions : Faiz-el-Khouri (Damascus) also joined in,
and a general uproar ensued. The President ordered a policeman to remove
Faiz-el-Khouri, who refused to leave the tribune, aptly quoting Mirabeau : “ Nous
sommes ici par la volonte du peuple, et nous n’en sortirons que par la puissance
des baionnettes.” The policeman was ejected. The President adjourned the
meeting for twenty minutes, until comparative calm was restored.
7. The session was reopened and lemonade was served to the Cabinet.
Faiz-el-Khouri protested against the terms of the decree summoning the
Parliament, which he stated was contrary to article 45 of the Constitution, and
a discussion ensued between him and the High Commissioner’s delegate, from
which it appeared that the French and Arabic texts do not agree. Nuri-el-Asfari
(Idlib, Aleppo) intervened with a suggestion that the House should get on with
the election of the President.
8. The result of the first ballot was Soubhi Barakat (Moderate) 28 votes,
Hakki-el-Azm (pro-French) 23, Hashem-el-Atassi (Nationalist) 17. None of the
candidates having polled half the votes, a second ballot was held. Nationalists
abstained and Soubhi Barakat received 30 votes, Hakki-el-Azm 23, and Hashem-
el-Atassi 2. Soubhi Barakat took the presidential chair, and stated that he
would endeavour to work in harmony with all parties and in particular the
Nationalists.
9. Other officials were then elected, the whole of the posts falling to Deputies
from the north, with a regular vote of about 30. The officers appointed are :
Vice-Presidents, Selim Jambert (Aleppo) and Mohammed-el-Fatih (Deir-ez-Zor);
secretaries, Latif Ghanimeh (Aleppo) and Mohamed-el-Joreb (Alexandretta);
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