A lecture on German Kaiser's visit to Syria in 1898
Syria-Regional-Germany, History, 1/2/1999

Damascene people have recently commemorated the centenary of the visit paid by the German Kaiser Wilhelm II to Damascus in 1898.

At the invitation of the Damascus Friends Society, Dr. George Jabbour made a lecture at the German Cultural Center on the same day Wilhelm II made his speech which was known at the time as the Damascus Declaration.

This Declaration was very important at that time, as it drew the outlines of German -Arab relations.

The lecturer started off his lecture talking about Damascus at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the Arab awakening movement.

He also talked about the Turkish-German friendship which was enhanced after delegating a German military mission in 1882 to modernize the Turkish Army.

Under Wilhelm II, the friendship and cooperation were further developed as Wilhelm wanted to open new horizons before the foreign policy to get it out of the European borders. This move was embodied by four main initiatives: constructing the railways linking Berlin and Baghdad, his visit to Syria proper, which comprised Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, East Jordan and Palestine, constructing the Hijazi railway and his visit to Tangiers.

Wilhelm's visit to Damascus occupied an important part in the Arab history books. One of these books was written by the Lebanese journalist Khalil Sarkis who said the visit lasted 25 days during which Wilhelm visited Jafa, Jerusalem, Damascus, Beirut and Baalbeck.

The Kaiser described the reception held in his honor in Damascus as very great, saying that he never witnessed such celebrations except on the day of his coronation.

He reviewed 5,000 soldiers in al-Marja square and made a speech there, which was considered later by historians as the first serious and real European approach to the Islamic world.

He expressed his pleasure over the hospitality he received from the Damascene people.

On the last day of his visit, the Kaiser and his wife made a tour of al-Salehiya quarter where they received presents from textile merchants.

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