THE NEW SYRIAN SITUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200170005-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 7, 1998
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 3, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2000/05/30: CIA-RDP80R01443R000200170005-8
~NSC BRIEFING 3 March 1954
I. A confused situation
A. Shishakli four-year dictatorship
replaced by temporary civilian
government currently supported by army.
B. Dctogenarian,President Hashem al Atassi;
has been labeled senile, willing tool
of extremist rebels and pro-Iraqi;
coalition cabinet; army in background.
1. Prime Minister Asali, one of five
Nationalists, four Populists and
three Independents.
a. Nationalists are remains
independence movement against
French priox 1945.
b. Same Populists favor union with
Iraq.
2. Defense Minister Dawalibi,
opportunistic, leftist, anti-Western,
pan-Islamist support of Mufti,
Moslem Brotherhood.
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3, Foreign Affairs Minister Faydi
Atassi, experienced pro-Western
nephew of president.
4, Army leaders not unified; Wane
dominant.
II, Anticipated developments
A. Efforts restore 1951 constitutional
situation will meet difficulties.
Elections promised in two months,
1. Politicians divided; none popular;
poor party organization. Exiled
leaders Quwatli and Mardam have
Saudi financing and may return,
2. Bitter quarrels over union with
Iraq. Prime Minister reportedly
received money from Iraq to
overthrow Shishakli, Some Syrians,
supported by Saudi Arabia and Egypt,
oppose union.
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B. New opportunities for radical
socialists, Communists and Moslem
Brotherhood.
1. Parties' weakness may give leftist
Akram Hawrani significant role.
Alleged Hawrani partisan is one of
revolt leaders, Capt. Hamdun.
2. Brotherhood and Communists inspired
some disturbances; latter tried
seize radio Damascus.
C. Army will be strongly tempted re-enter
scene; did sa in three 1949 coups;:
followed by Shishakli fully taking over
in 1951. Struggle for power now an in
army.
III. Implications for US
Coalition government unable move forward
on any issue significant to US.
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NSC BRIEFING 3 March 1954
SYRIAN POLITICAL PARTIES
I. National Front
Prominent in independence movement against
French prior 1945; wanted republican Syria;
in power when army took over in 1949.
i
~ A. Leaders: Shukri Quwatli, Jamil Mardam,
Hashem al Atassi.
B. Members in cabinet: Asali (prime
minister), Muhammad Sulayman al Ahmad,
Fakhir Kayyali, Afif Sulh.
II. Populist Party
Formed in 1948 in opposition to Quwatli's
hold on Nationalists, Largest and mast
i
important party, closest to Western type
party. Promotes secular, representative
democracy, Arab nationalism.
A. Cabinet members: Ma'ruf Dawlibi, Faydi
al Atas
si.
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III . Arab Socialist Party
Extreme leftist and anti-Western group led
? by Akram Hawrani. Merged in .December 1952
with extremist Arab Resurrection Party.
IV. Syrian Social National Party
Small well-organized group, with branch in
Lebanon, aims at re-establishing enlarged
Syria. existent under Ottoman Empire --
Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, former Palestine
and Iraq.
A. Shishakli formerly member.
V. Arab Liberation Movement
Organized by Shishakli in 1952. Can be
assumed to be inoperative.
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Approved For Release 2000/05/30 :CIA-RDP80R01443R000200170005-8