Drafting of the Lebanese constitution

December 4, 1925 – May 25, 1926

December 4, 1925Henry de Jouvenel informs the CR of his decision that the Lebanese should write their constitution.
December 10, 1925First plenary meeting of the CR, election of 13-member CSO
December 14, 1925CR Plenary meets to decide on the drafting plan, designation of a subcommittee of five members, including Chiha and Dammous, to prepare work timeline and program.
December 16, 1925Dammous tasked with preparing national questionnaire.
December 28, 19252 events
January 6, 1926Plenary CR meeting for the general structure of Constitution.
January 16, 1926Meeting of the CSO to discuss the responses to Dammous questionnaire which had been received. Responses continue to trickle down for another month.
February 1, 1926‘Preparatory works’ and documents, including foreign constitutions (DOC 16), the Menassa project (DOC 22), a partial draft by Chiha (DOC 19), the ‘Chiha/Trad’ drafts (DOCs 23 and 24), and another anonymous draft (DOC 25).
February 5, 1926Mention of the appointment of two (or three)-member drafting subcommittee, including Chiha.
February 15, 1926 – February 16, 19262 events
February 22, 1926the manuscript is typed and three additional typed versions (DOCs 2 to 5) circulate amongst the members of the CSO -- probably also amongst French figures in the High Commission.
March 1, 1926improved typed drafts (DOCs 6 to 8 consolidated in DOC 11) circulate in Beirut. CSO members meet regularly.
March 15, 1926Comments from French HC officials and from CSO members (DOCs 6 to 8), including de Jouvenel (DOC 6). Paul Souchier comments extensively in a set of ‘observations’ in DOC 9.
March 25, 1926Copy of the draft shared with al-Ma‘rad.
March 31, 1926Paul Souchier adds the second part of DOC 11 on the French Mandate to the Lebanese section.
April 7, 1926A printed version (DOCs 12, 13) of DOC 11 circulates in Beirut with ad hoc Arabic translations.
April 13, 1926Publication of the Lebanese part of DOC 11 in L’Orient, in five instalments. Arabic unofficial translation is published in al-Ahwal.
April 18, 1926finalized Avant-Projet sent by de Jouvenel to Paris.
May 1, 1926printed documents are prepared for the CR for its final debate. Changes in printed documents (DOCs 12, 13, 14) show that they are completed after the Avant-Projet is sent to Paris.
May 11, 1926Avant-Projet studied in Paris by French Prime Minister Aristide Briand and his team. Continued press and committee discussions in Beirut.
May 17, 1926French correspondence between Paris and Beirut.
May 15, 1926French correspondence between Paris and Beirut.
May 17, 1926 – May 19, 19263 events
May 22, 1926 – May 23, 19263 events