Salim Takla and his role in Lebanese political life 1895-1945

Abstract

The French worked to inflame sectarian differences between the Lebanese, taking advantage of their knowledge of the peculiarities that characterize Lebanese society and the diversity of its sects. What is striking about Lebanon’s social nature is its religious diversity, as it was inhabited by Muslims and Christians, in addition to other sects. Therefore, some sects received external support from countries. Europeans, as they began to enjoy some privileges that favored them over Muslims.Although the events highlighted many political figures who contributed to the history of Lebanon, they colored the political phenomenon with the nature of internal conflict, as Lebanon witnessed, as a result, many internal conflicts that reflected the nature of the sectarian conflict there, which the West took advantage of. They interfered in the country's internal affairs, under the pretext of protecting Christians and providing them with moral support. In the midst of these events, important political figures appeared representing those sects. Among them was Salim Takla, who was nominated in the Parliament as a representative of the Roman Catholic sect, and received the most important position assigned to a sect, which is the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Salim Takla represented Lebanon best in all Arab and international forums. This study included the birth and upbringing of Salim Takla. He is from the Roman Catholic sect and completed his studies in law. He had a role in the Lebanese parliamentary sessions and ministerial positions. The study shed light on the role of Salim Takla in public political life, especially his role in the Parliament in the years 1937-1945, and the ministry he held. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the most important ministries it holds, in addition to its positions on the 1936 treaty, its position on the Lebanon crisis in 1943, and its position on Lebanon’s accession to the League of Arab States in 1945.