Lesson 4 - The Syria and Lebanon Mandate Flashcards
Why did Paris demand Syria and Lebanon after the Great War?
1) French economic interests in region, in banking, silk, roads, railways, etc.;
2) historical and cultural links with Christian communities of Levant, especially Maronites of Mount Lebanon. These dated back to crusades. Then, in 16th century, Ottoman
3) Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent had made France’s king François I and his successors protector of Christians in region. After downfall of monarchy, role was assumed by French presidents;
4) belief that France needed colonies to be great power;
5) had “mission civilisatrice”: it was her moral duty to extend benefits of her civilisation
When was France was awarded mandate for Syria and
Lebanon?
At the San Remo conference in April 1920 - and was confirmed in 1922 by the league of nations.
What was the league of nations?
The League of Nations was an international organization founded in 1920 after World War I, with the goal of maintaining world peace and preventing future conflicts. It was created as part of the Treaty of Versailles and was championed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, though the United States never actually joined.
What replaced the League of Nations in 1946
The UN
How long did the Arab Kingdom of Syria last?
Formally, the Arab Kingdom of Syria only lasted from March to July 1920. However the expression is used to refer to 1918-20 period.
What happened on 5 October 2018?
Faisal, the son of Sharif Hussein bin Ali al-Hashimi, announced, with the implicit backing of the British, the formation of an Arab constitutional government
Why did this not go down well with Paris?
During the war, Britain and France had agreed that French would get Syria, Lebanon and Cilicia. Yet, since French had no troops in region they were forced to accept fait accompli, for the time being;
Why were the traditional elite of Damascus not happy?
Faisal appointed members of rival families of notables.
What repercussions did this have?
1) From the beginning, Faisal and his regime were rejected by many local notables, even if they found it prudent to collaborate with it;
2) They would not hesitate to side with whoever would guarantee their dominant position, even if that was French.
Who were those who were put in power? Why did this lead to further resentment by the local nobles?
Faisal rapidly ignored local notables and appointed his supporters, many of them Iraqis to top positions. Most of these men had no administrative experience and were corrupt. This only increased dissatisfaction with and opposition to Faisal.
What had Faisal given up at the Paris Peace conference?
Lebanon and Palestine
What else had he done that was not accepted by Syrian nationalists?
He had implicitly accepted the idea of a mandate (with
preference for US as mandatory power).
What did the Syrian Elite think of Faisal?
His family and clan were seen as nothing but uneducated Bedouin because they were born in Mecca.
When was the first Syrian National Congress called?
In June 1919
What did the Syrian Congress call for?
Full independence of Syria
Why was Faisal in a difficult position?
He was negotiating with the French. Indeed he needed to adopt
a conciliatory attitude if he was to avoid total French domination over Syria, Paris threatening to send troops based in Beirut and establishing direct control.
Why did Faisal set up a Council of Directors
It was staffed by his loyalists whose aim was to side-line the Syrian National Congress without disbanding it.
What did the British announce in Sept 1919 after talking to the French?
1) They would withdraw their forces from Syria: so far they had been shielding Faisal and the Syrians but from then on, France could act as she wished;
2) the subsidy they had awarded to Faisal would be cut by 50%: as result, Syria experienced serious economic and fiscal problems, which eroded authority of Faisal and the notables associated with his administration.
When did Clemenceau and Faisal agree on in early Jan 2020?
Faisal would rule nominally independent Syria including Lebanon under loose French mandate, as long as he could maintain law and order there. But, should there beany disturbance, he would have to call French troops.
What did Faisal do to counter the outcry among nationalists in Syria?
Faisal created al-Hizb al-Watani (National Party), supported by even more nationalistic notables.
What did the al-Hizb al-Watani party do however?
However, behind its nationalist discourse, National Party did not insist on immediate independence and was also prepared to recognise a Jewish National Home in Palestine,
something unacceptable to his nationalist opponents.
What had the nationalists opposed to Faisal done in 1919?
1) they had created volunteer defence groups, ready to fight French militarily;
2) They had organised elections to Higher National Committee, which progressively took over some functions of government.
When Syrian National Congress reconvened in March 1920, what did the representatives proclaim?
1) They rejected the deal with Clemenceau;
2) They proclaimed Faisal king of Arab Kingdom of Syria;
3) They proclaimed Syria completely independent with “her natural borders”. (which meant Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine).
4) They proclaimed Zeid (one of Faisal’s younger brothers) regent of Mesopotamia.
5) They rejected a Jewish home in Palestine;
6) They forced Faisal to dismiss his Council of Directors;
7) They forced Faisal to form new cabinet composed of more extreme leading nationalists.
What did Arabs in Syria do at this time?
A group of Arabs in Palestine began petitioning British authorities to oppose Zionism and to be integrated into independent Syria.
