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Bechara El Khoury, the first President of Lebanon
Name Bechara Khoury
Born 1307/1890
Place of birth Beirut
Some works Haqa'iq Lubnaniya

Bechara El Khoury (born 1890 in Lebanon), was the first President of Lebanon after independence from the colonial rule of France.


Birth

He was born in 1307/1890, into a Maronite family in Beirut.


Education

After completing his preliminary education in the city of Beiteddine, he went to Beirut for further studies and graduated in Arabic language from Saint Joseph University. He obtained a law degree from the University of Paris in 1330/1912 and practiced law[1].

Political-Social Activities

Khoury, in that same year, along with Émile Eddé, participated in establishing the Lebanese Beirut Society (Jam'iyat Beirut al-Lubnaniyah), the aim of which was the realization of Greater Lebanon and the country's independence. He in 1333/1915, after signing a statement regarding Lebanon's independence from the Ottoman Empire, was pursued by Ottoman authorities and forced to go to Egypt. Khoury in Cairo and Alexandria continued practicing law and became acquainted with the founders of the Lebanese Union (al-Ittihad al-Lubnani), who defended Lebanon's autonomy and territorial integrity. After the end of World War I, Khoury in 1337/1919 returned to Beirut and continued practicing law. In 1338/1920, he collaborated with Émile Eddé in establishing the Progress Party. This party after the collapse of the Ottoman government, operated within the framework of Lebanon's political system[2].

Khoury in 1338/1920, became the governor of Mount Lebanon*, but after two years, in protest against the appointment of a French governor instead of a Lebanese governor in Lebanon, he resigned from his position. He in 1301 SH/1922, was elected to the membership of the Chamber of Deputies and the presidency of the Court of Appeal[3].

Khoury in 1305 SH/1926, became the Minister of Interior in the first presidential cabinet of Charles Debbas, but after a while, the Senate withdrew its vote of confidence from the cabinet. Then Khoury from 1306 to 1308 SH/1927–1929, three times reached the premiership during the same period of Charles Debbas. But his governments were unstable, so he resigned all three times[4].

In 1311 SH/1932, after the end of Charles Debbas's presidency, Khoury intended to participate in the presidential elections, but the French, ignoring the constitution, extended Debbas's presidential term for another year and in 1312 SH/1933 also elected Habib al-Sa'd (one of the politicians affiliated with France) to the presidency. In 1315 SH/1936, Khoury participated in the presidential elections but the Parliament under French influence, elected Émile Eddé, who had leaned towards France, to the presidency by a narrow margin of votes[5].

Henceforth, Khoury led the opponents of the president in the Parliament and demanded the full and correct implementation of the constitution in the country. He who from 1314 SH/1935 had established the Constitutional Union Party (Hizb al-Ittihad al-Dusturi) for this purpose, in the Parliament by forming the Constitutional Bloc (al-Kutlah al-Dusturiyah), formed a powerful opposition bloc against Émile Eddé and the National Bloc (al-Kutlah al-Wataniyah) led by him[6].

In 1320 SH/1941, with the deterioration of economic conditions and the intensification of public protests against the French, Émile Eddé resigned from the presidency and the French chose Alfred Naqqash (another politician affiliated with France) in his place, but with the increase in opposition from Lebanese political leaders and activists, the French agreed to hold parliamentary elections in 1322 SH/1943. After the parliamentary elections, the Constitutional Bloc achieved a decisive victory and a fierce competition arose between Bechara El Khoury and Émile Eddé for the election of the president but due to disagreements within Émile Eddé's faction, he refrained from attending the Parliament. Therefore, the Parliament on 29 Shahrivar 1322/21 September 1943 with a decisive majority, elected Bechara El Khoury, who was supported by the leaders of Arab countries and England, to the presidency. Two days later Khoury, chose Riad al-Sulh (one of the prominent Sunni nationalists) as Prime Minister[7].

Khoury and his supporters in the Parliament attempted to remove Lebanon from French mandate by making changes to the constitution so that the executive and legislative powers would be fully in the hands of the Lebanese. On 15 Aban 1322/7 November 1943, the government presented these reform items, which became known as the Independence Document (Wathiqat al-Istiqlal) or the National Pact, to the Parliament, which were approved on 16 Aban 1322/8 November 1943. The removal of the word "mandate" from the constitution, emphasis on Lebanon's national sovereignty, removal of the French language as the second official language of the country, Lebanon's independence in the field of foreign policy, emphasis on Lebanon's Arab identity, and cooperation of this country with Arab countries were among the most important constitutional reforms. In addition, three important political positions in Lebanon were divided among three groups. The presidency was assigned to the Maronites, the premiership to Sunni Muslims, and the speakership of the Parliament to the Shiites.

Bechara El Khoury also agreed to these changes and signed the National Pact, which was published in the official newspapers of Lebanon[8]. The French in reaction to this action, on 19 Aban 1322/11 November 1943 arrested Bechara El Khoury along with Riad al-Sulh and several others and exiled them to Rashaya Citadel. They annulled the changes made to the constitution and dissolved the Parliament, and chose Émile Eddé for the presidency and premiership, but the boycott of his government by most Lebanese politicians forced Eddé to resign[9].

Afterwards, a great uprising of the people of Lebanon began against the actions of the French occupiers. They demanded the freedom of Bechara El Khoury and his companions. French forces suppressed the widespread public demonstrations and strikes with violence. The nationalists also formed a provisional government headed by Habib Abu Shahla, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The French sent their representative, General Catroux, to Lebanon to restore calm there. After Catroux's negotiations with the nationalists, including Bechara El Khoury, the French released him and other detainees on 30 Aban 1322/22 November 1943 and accepted Lebanon's independence. After the departure of French forces from Lebanon, Bechara El Khoury reduced Lebanon's relations with France, but France tried to maintain its relations with this country due to Lebanon's strategic position. Khoury's foreign policy, which was not aligned with the US at the beginning of the Cold War, gradually leaned towards this country[10].

He also aligned with Pan-Arabist tendencies and, while emphasizing the ideals of the Arab nation and greater cooperation among Arab countries, agreed to join the Arab League. Lebanon was among the influential countries in the establishment of this league in 1324 SH/1945. Also, Khoury during World War II (1939–1945) declared war against Germany and was allowed to participate in the San Francisco Conference—where the United Nations was founded. Lebanon signed the UN Charter on 5 Tir 1324/26 June 1945 and became a member. Khoury opposed the Greater Syria plan based on the union of Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, which King Abdullah bin Hussein (King of Jordan) proposed in 1325 SH/1946. In the Arab-Israeli War of 1327 SH/1948 as well, by his order, Lebanese forces participated in the war against Israel alongside some Arab countries[11].

In 1328 SH/1949, Bechara El Khoury's presidential term ended, but his supporters in the Parliament, who were in the majority, extended his presidential term for another six years. Thus, he became president again, but this action caused the formation of an opposition front, led by Kamal Jumblatt (Jumblatt) and Camille Chamoun. Khoury in the same year suppressed the uprising of Antoun Saadeh, leader of the Syrian National Party, arrested him, and executed him on 17 Tir 1328/8 July 1949. He dissolved paramilitary parties such as the Kataeb Party. This caused these parties to join the ranks of the opponents. In 1329 SH/1950, all forces and parties opposing Khoury gathered in a formation called the National Socialist Front (al-Jabhat al-Wataniyah al-Ishtirakiyah), led by Camille Chamoun and Kamal Jumblatt. They in the parliamentary elections in 1330 SH/1951, created a powerful faction in the Parliament and accused Khoury's government of political and economic corruption and resistance to reforms, and protested against the interferences of Fuad Khoury, his brother([12]).

On the other hand, the killing of Riad al-Sulh (one of Khoury's supporters) in 1330 SH/1951 in Amman (capital of Jordan) by a member of the Syrian National Party weakened Khoury's position. In 1331 SH/1952, with the increase in pressure from opponents, widespread strikes took shape. Meanwhile, Saeb Salam (former Minister of Interior) refused Khoury's request to form a cabinet, and General Fuad Shihab, the army commander, refused to carry out his order to suppress the opponents. Consequently, Khoury was forced to resign on 27 Shahrivar 1331/18 September 1952.

Works

Afterward, he withdrew from politics and devoted himself to writing his memoirs titled Haqa'iq Lubnaniyya. This book was published in 1339 SH/1960 in Beirut[13]. He was also proficient in poetry; his most important poetic works include:

  1. Good Tidings to You, Ferdowsi! (Excerpts from the long ode Bisharat al-Khuri about Ferdowsi).
  2. In the Spring of Eternity.
  3. I Love You.
  4. Directions of Desire.
  5. Flowers of Shuwayr.
  6. The Birth of al-Mutanabbi.
  7. Ferdowsi.
  8. A Falling Star.
  9. Palestine.


Death

Khuri died in 1343 SH/1964.


Footnotes

  1. ↑ Tarabulusi, pp. 84–85, 157; Sulh, p. 16; Alizadeh, p.
  2. ↑ Joseph Abu Judah, p. 412; Al-Arabiya Encyclopedia, under the entry; Sulh, ibid
  3. ↑ Sulaybi, p. 217; Tarabulusi, p. 157; Al-Arabiya Encyclopedia, ibid
  4. ↑ Majid Khalil Majid, pp. 17–23; Bayini, p. 615; Dayri, p. 99
  5. ↑ Labib Abd al-Sattar, p. 208; Sulaybi, pp. 222–225; Muhammad Zu'aytar, p. 459
  6. ↑ Sulaybi, 217, 222; Labib Abd al-Sattar, p. 242
  7. ↑ Labib Abd al-Sattar, pp. 213–220; Sulaybi, p. 236; Hudson, p. 43
  8. ↑ Sulaybi, pp. 236–237; Bayini, pp. 331–332; Petran, pp. 33–34; Labib Abd al-Sattar, pp. 220–223
  9. ↑ Labib Abd al-Sattar, p. 224; Tarabulusi, p. 178; Milham Qurban, Vol. 1, p. 219
  10. ↑ Nante, pp. 423–425; Hassan Hallaq, pp. 350–354
  11. ↑ Tarabulusi, pp. 189–193; Hassan Hallaq, pp. 269–270, 294–295, 304–305; Nante, ibid
  12. ↑ Sulaybi, pp. 241–242; Tarabulusi, pp. 211–212; Contemporary History of Arab Countries, pp. 60–61
  13. ↑ Labib Abdulsatar, p. 252; Tarabulusi, ibid.; Alizadeh, p. 158
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