§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State far Foreign Affairs whether he can confirm the report that the independence of Syria has been proclaimed at Damascus, and His Highness the Emir Feisul proclaimed King; what territories are claimed by His Highness; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIt appears that the Emir Feisul was proclaimed King of Syria—including, apparently, Palestine and Syria—by a congress at Damascus on 8th March. But of whom this congress was composed, or what authority it possessed, is not yet known. As it is obvious that the future of the territories which have been conquered from the former Ottoman Empire can only properly be determined by the Allied Powers, who are at present assembled in conference for the purpose, Emir Feisul has been informed by the British and French Governments, acting in concert, that they cannot recognise the validity of these2434W proceedings, and the Emir has been invited to come to Europe to state his case.