1943, March 25. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History

The Encyclopedia of World History. 2001.


1943, March 25

Restoration of the constitution by French authorities, under pressure from the British.	1

July

Formulation of the NATIONAL PACT, the informal understanding reached by Christians and Muslims on the internal division of power. According to this agreement, the president was to be a Maronite, the prime minister a Sunni, and the speaker of the lower house a Shi’ite. The proportion of seats in the lower house would be distributed according to a ratio of six Christians to five Muslims. The cabinet was to be divided along similar lines: two (or three) Maronites, two (or three) Sunnis, and one each for the Shi’ites, Greek Orthodox, Druze, and Greek Catholics. On the whole, the arrangement overrepresented the Christian communities and heavily contributed to later political instability.	2

Sept. 21

Election of Bishara al-Khuri as the new president. The government immediately undertook negotiations to end the French Mandate.	3

Nov. 11

Arrest of leading Lebanese officials (including President Bishara al-Khuri and Prime Minister Riyad al-Sulh) after they tried to amend the constitution without consulting French authorities. Great Britain forced the colonial administration to release them (Nov. 22), and thereafter French rule began to wind down.	4


The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.