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Senator Henry de Jouvenel, able editor-in-chief of Le Matin, one time French delegate to the League of Nations and recently appointed French Civilian High Commissioner to Syria (TIME, Nov. 16) is known in Paris as a man of caution and of peace. Those qualities recommended him highly as a successor to General Maurice Sarrail, the recalled French High Commander to Syria (TIME, Nov. 9). Last week Frenchmen were well pleased as M. de Jouvenel slipped quietly over to London for a conference with British Foreign Secretary Austen Chamberlain, preparatory to setting out for Syria.
Since the French Mandate in Syria adjoins the British Mandate in Palestine, M. de Jouvenel an nounced that he wished to come to an amicable understanding concerning any possible sources of friction between the two mandates. Said he, after a conference, a dinner, another conference, and a few hours at a supper club with Mr. Chamberlain:
"My hasty trip to England has been one of complete pleasure and satisfaction. . . . Mr. Chamberlain is delightful . . . charming. . . the soul of candor and honesty . . . so intelligent ... so utterly frank. . . . Some continental newspapers recently made remarks on the con duct of British representatives in Syria.* After my conversations with Mr. Chamberlain I can say these representatives have always in their statements to their chief displayed the utmost desire for co operation with the French administration."
M. de Jouvenel continued:
"In order that I might have a clear conception of my task in Syria, it was essential that the boundaries should be settled with neighboring territories. In our discussion we have agreed to hasten the delimitation of frontiers be tween Syria on the one hand and the British mandated territories of Palestine and Irak on the other. I also hope to go to Angora at an early date to settle the Syrian boundaries with Turkey. . . . My policy is to work with the League of Nations and to bring to Syria full independence at the soonest possible moment."
Early next morning he returned to France.
*General Sarrail was reported in the French press as alleging that the British consul at during Damascus the had "nearly created as panic" during the recent French bombardment of that city (TIME, Nov. 9), and had sent distorted reports to London on the situation.