USA Wins Syrian Favor With Grant Of Flour, and Sale of Grains - 01/12/1961

Globe-Times

01 December 1961

 

The course of events within Syria since its separation from Nasser’s United Arab Republic has been pleasing to the U.S. State Department, Premier Mahmoun al-Kuzbari, the choice of the Syrian revolutionary command to head the civilian government, set the tone on Oct. 2 - less than a week after the successful revolt - by promising general elections within four months. He said also that his government would aim toward “a sound, democratic socialist life” under which private ownership, industrialization and foreign investment would be encouraged.

 

Kuzbari now has made good on his word by scheduling election of a constituent assembly for today. He resigned his premiership on Nov. 20 to stand as a candidate for the assembly. Presumably he would head the new government if his followers gain a majority of the 170 assembly seats.

 

Kuzbari firmly believes that a neutralist policy is best for Syria and is wary of Communist influence. The Communist paper, Al Nida, published in Beirut, Lebanon, recently complained that Communists have been excluded from political activity in Syria. It said those jailed under the Nasser regime are still being held and that Syrian Communists outside the country have not been allowed to return.

 

At first it was feared that the new Syrian regime would try to mobilize support with a demonstration of toughness toward Israel. But relative quiet has reigned along the Israel-Syria border as Kuzbari has wrestled with domestic problems, the chief of which is a shortage of barley and wheat caused by four years of drought. The United States has won favor among Syrians by a grant of flour and a sale of grains for local currency.