Violent anti-Italian demonstrations took place throughout Syria today at the end of the regular Friday Moslem religious services. Paraphrasing their usual religious chant, thousands of worshippers pouring out of the Omayyades Mosque here shouted “there is only one God and Mussolini is his enemy!”
The demonstrations here and in other Syrian and Lebanese cities were provoked by the Italian occupation of Albania. About 30,000 persons gathered in front of the Omayyades Mosque to hear several orators, among them a woman, denounce the Italian action in extremely violent terms. The demonstrators then paraded through the city. Authorities took special precautions to protect Italian-owned buildings but no disorders were reported. Anti-Italian speeches were also pronounced at the mosques in Allepo and Beirut.
Popular resentment against the Italian coup seemed to be extending to the economic field. The Arab press proposed a boycott of Italian goods. Pamphlets calling for such a boycott also were distributed in Beyrouth.
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