Sound Policy in Syria - 01/12/1961

The Salt Lake Tribune

01 December 1961

 

The record of military regimes in fulfilling promises for the restoration of popular rule is not too good. Often a ruling junta finds excuse after excuse to retain control, sometimes for years.

 

Turkey was a recent exception-although only partially so, because subsequent events indicated the military still wields considerable influence.

 

A better exception may prove to be Syria. The military leaders who broke Syria’s union with Egypt at the end of September, quickly chose a civilian, Mahmoun al-Kuzbari, to head an interim government. He promptly promised elections would be held.

 

The date was set for Friday, December 1, when members of a constituent assembly will be elected. Kuzbari himself resigned his office as temporary premier to stand as a candidate. It is assumed that if his followers command a majority of the 170 seats in the assembly he will then head the government.

 

Reports indicate the country is calm and that the election should go off without difficulty.

 

Meanwhile Syria’s leaders appear to be following a sound middle-of-the-road policy friendly to the West although not committed, wary of Communist infiltrations, refraining from impassioned anti-Israel action, and carefully neutral as between the two poles of Arab power in Egypt and Iraq.

 

This is a course America can and should support.