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From your correspondent in Aleppo, 22/10/1950

Severing of relations between Syria and Lebanon

Based on information reaching Aleppo from Lebanon and Tripoli (Syria), farmers, merchants and business owners held a large meeting at the Chamber of Agriculture in Aleppo on 20/10/1950 to discuss the poor situation of the economy resulting from the government's decision to sever relations with Lebanon.

Also during the meeting, the Secretary of the Chamber of Agriculture, Mr Taher Hameed Pacha, read a letter he had received from Tripoli's Chamber of Agriculture informing him that the city's inhabitants had become very angry when they learned the real nature of the decision adopted by the two governments. The author of the letter said that Tripoli's citizens were preparing to put counter measures in place in response to this unfair decision.

Tripoli asked Aleppo to follow suit and protest against the Syrian Government’s decision, urge it to mitigate the severity of its demands, accept Lebanon's conditions, and reverse its decision to sever relations between the two countries.

The letter's author confirms that there is a new strong movement in Tripoli against separation from Syria, that the idea of becoming part of Syria has begun to gain momentum, and that the movement has become stronger after the break in relations. He also said that Aleppo's popular circles intend to send strong protests to prominent personalities in order to prevent the total breakdown in relations between the two countries.