Abstract

The Arab Revolt and the Syrian Problem

This article focuses on political conditions in the Kingdom of the Hejaz, Syria. The Hezaz is a small strip on the west coast of Arabia but it includes the holy cities of Medina and Mecca and its ruler is the Cherif of Mecca, descendant of the Prophet itself, head of a family with a venerable history of nine hundred years as guardians of the holy relics. The separation of the coast cities of Syria from the rich interior cities of Damascus and Aleppo is obviously unjustified but from the point of view of the small but influential French colonial party it was doubtly so. An inner Syria which could gradually be absorbed into a French coastal colony might be acceptable; but not an inner Syria attached in some way to an Arab confederation.