King Abdullah’s ['Abd Allāh] Assassination, Public Opinion, Statements by Communist Parliamentarians, and Former British Soldiers

17/11

From your correspondent in Aleppo

22/7/1951

King Abdullah’s assassination, public opinion, statements by communist parliamentarians, and former British soldiers

The Muslim majority in Aleppo was deeply affected by King Abdullah's assassination because he is a descendent of Islam's prophet.

Riad al-Solh's assassination does not bode well, and acts like these are a bad omen. The Arab countries will witness in the near future unexpected and unpleasant events that would prove harmful to the nation and the country.

Public opinion believes that the security services and the army in Palestine and Trans-Jordan have been derelict in their duties and should be held responsible for what has happened. Public administration in these countries is lax and the British are the cause of everything that has taken place, and will take place in the future.

Public opinion also believes that King Abdullah was the victim of British policies and of a conspiracy by Haj Amin al- Husseini, and that the Arabs would not have hated King Abdullah had he not pursued pro-British policies of which he undoubtedly fell victim.

Public opinion is unanimous regarding Akram Haurani's lack of manners and civility which he demonstrated by withdrawing from Parliament on two different occasions. The first occasion was upon the announcement of a mourning period after the assassination of Riad al-Solh, and the second when parliamentarians were requested to stand in memory of King Abdullah's assassination. Everyone now thinks that Akram Haurani is brainless, indolent, ill-intentioned, and lacks manners, civility, and political acumen.

Public opinion in Aleppo was very upset by the statements of three Syrian Parliamentarians, namely:

First: Ali Bozo, a former Minister of Agriculture, who defended the youths who want to go to Berlin in order to attend the International Festival and asked the Government in Parliament, not to prevent their departure when he knows very well that they are communists.

Second: The Deputy from Aleppo, Abdel-Wahab Homed's statement requesting the Government to finalise the youths' travel formalities so that they would be able to attend the International Festival in Berlin. He claimed that the Peace Movement’s supporters are not communist although he knows for sure that they are.

Third: Statements by Mostapha al-Seba'i, Aleppo's deputy and Spiritual Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, attacking the Government for putting pressure on the communists and for claiming that such acts violate neutrality and are provocative to the Soviet Russian Government.

Public opinion believes that these three parliamentarians are communists and working under Moscow's orders through its representative in Damascus, that they are a big calamity for the country's policies and aspirations, and that the Government has been derelict in its duty when it failed to put them in their place and draw the line on their activities.

Many wonder about the reason behind the British Consul in Aleppo’s inquiry regarding the 12,000 or so individuals who had once served in the British Army and had been let go of after the war. The Consul ordered his men to evaluate the number and identity of these soldiers, and contact their families in order to bring them in as soon as the signal is given. The reason is still unknown.