March 19, 1954
Untitled report on Saudi contact with the Parti Populaire
This document was made possible with support from Youmna and Tony Asseily
20/2F
To HE the Director of the Lebanese Sûreté Générale
I am honoured to report:
It was understood that the PPS in Syria and Lebanon has committed itself to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and thwart the Fertile Crescent Project. The Party's secretary general, Mr Issam al-Mahairi met in Damascus with the Saudi Ambassador, Prince Abdel-‘Aziz bin Zeid, and discussed with him ways and means of halting the Project's implementation and the role that the Nationalists in Syria and Lebanon could play towards this end.
It was also understood that two days ago the Party's Secretary General, Abdullah al-Qubursi, paid a visit to the Saudi Embassy in Beirut, met at length with Chargé d’Affaires Said Beik al-Rashash, and discussed with him that same issue. We were, however, unable to know the results of this meeting, but, once we do, we will share it with you in detail.
I was also contacted and given news, not by our usual informer but by other Nationalists. It was understood that when Kamal Jumblatt was last in Syria, he took the opportunity of his being in Damascus to call Issam al-Mahairi and ask to see him. After their meeting, Mr Jumblatt (Kamāl Junblāṭ) and Mr al-Mahairi went to visit the Party's First Lady, the wife of the Chairman, at her home where she received Mr Jumblatt with all due respect and decorum and discussed with him, in al-Mahairi's presence, ways of re-establishing good relations between the Nationalist and Socialist Parties in Lebanon. Jumblatt rejected any responsibility for the dispute that had taken place, and is still ongoing, with the leadership of the PPS in Lebanon, although he actually was responsible for past disputes between the two Parties. Jumblatt, however, promised to do his best to bring the situation back to normal between him and Nationalist leaders provided they also opt for mending bridges with him and his Party. The First Lady promised to get in touch with Party leaders in Lebanon and prevail upon them to reciprocate Mr Jumblatt's gesture.
19/3/1954
Report on a cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and the PPS in Syria and Lebanon
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