SYRIA, LEBANON AND JORDAN 1. STATUS AND STRENGTH OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SYRIA,LEBANON AND JORDAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-00915R000900030103-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 23, 1998
• Sequence Number: 103
• Content Type: STUDY

Approved For Relea ,2001/07/28: jA*08-00915R000
Syria Lebanon and Jordan
1. Status and Strength of the Communist Party of Syria, Lebanonand Jordan
a. Syria
Officially outlawed since 1939, the Syrian Communist Party
has operated openly 1954, r ' "?` 4la4 y
have approximately 12,000 members.
Syrian difficulties with its neighbors, the Syrian-Soviet
economic agreement, the Soviet supply of arms to Syria, Soviet
support of Egypt when the latter was invaded, and the USSR's
backing of the Arab cause against Israel hVW-all contributed to
the proSoviet trend in Syria and theA%W respectability of the
Syrian Communist Party and its leader, Khalid Bakdash, who was
elected to parliament in 1954. In its propaganda line the party
concentrat on praise of the Soviet Union as the friend of the
Arabs] charges of "imperialist" plots to overthrow the
Lebanon
The 1939 ban of
Mandatory regime was
in 1948 but the part
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. underground, its principal leaders in hiding orq ga*
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from Syria where they took refuge after the counter-coup.
Approved For Release 2001/07/28 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000900030103-5