In Society — The Question of Woman's Political Rights

* Ever since Mr. Camille Chamoun assumed the Presidency of the Republic, the question of woman's political rights has continued to claim the greatest share of importance in the activity of the Lebanese woman, in the belief that this is the favorable opportunity to raise her cause on a wide scale and to prepare the responsible authorities for the matter before the amendment of the electoral law, so as to secure our success in the required manner. It was natural that the Executive Committee of the Women's Organizations should be charged with pursuing this cause; and no sooner was the way opened to it than its members hastened to call on the President of the Republic, and laid before him the rights of woman, on the occasion of the serious talk of amending the electoral law and of walking the road of progress in the new era.

His Honor the President listened first with all attention to the point of view of the representatives of the women's organizations in Lebanon, expressed his sympathy for the rights of woman, and showed every encouragement and assistance toward bringing the Lebanese woman to her legitimate rights.

Then the committee called at the office of Emir Khalid Chehab, the Prime Minister, laid out woman's cause before him, and demanded that the government not overlook her matter in the course of studying the amendment of the electoral law. The Prime Minister was most enthusiastic for the rights of woman; he supported the Executive Committee of the Women's Organizations in its rights and its demands, and said that he was the first to proclaim this idea and to call for its realization, in the year 1926, and that it is natural that he should adopt it today and work to carry it out.

The committee withdrew, thanking him for his enthusiasm and support, and hoping that matters would not stop at this point.

And in his ministerial statement, which the Prime Minister, Emir Khalid Chehab, laid before the Chamber to obtain its confidence, one of the clauses of his reform program, concerning the amendment of the electoral law, was the granting to the Lebanese woman of her full rights as a citizen. This frank recognition had its glorious echo in all women's circles, and it was considered a gracious gesture from the head of the government, and shining proof of his good faith, that he should hasten to carry out his promise to the Executive Committee with such speed. The women's organizations sped to His Excellency telegrams of support and of thanks for his noble stand, at the head of these organizations being the General Arab Women's Union, presided over by Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura.

And the Publicity and Publications Committee of the Lebanese Women's Union addressed an open letter to each of His Excellency the President of the Republic and His Excellency the Prime Minister, asking with astonishment about this clamor raised by the various women's organizations in support

of the demands of the Executive Committee, as though these organizations were in doubt about the fate of their cause...

Among what the letter said:

"We who have heard Deputy Camille Chamoun declare repeatedly in the Chamber of Deputies: 'The Lebanese woman is worthy of every equality with man in all rights and privileges,' and 'The country that has entered into the membership of the United Nations must fulfill all the conditions agreed upon it, the foremost of them being equality in political rights between woman and man,' and 'I see no justification for this dispute; we must give the Lebanese woman these rights' — no doubt crosses our minds that President Camille Chamoun will inaugurate the era of his presidency by loosing these bonds from half the nation, so that woman may feel the full responsibility in an era of great responsibilities."

"The woman who is aware, and who feels what is asked of every individual in the era of reform, wants to be in the front rank of the soldiers, to see an era of which every Lebanese has long dreamed. We wish to feel that we have a homeland that begets in us sacrifice for the sake of the happiness of every one of its members. And we have every hope that the President, Emir Khalid Chehab, and the chosen ministers will smooth the way for this awaited reform."

The Publicity and Publications Committee of the Lebanese Women's Union