VIOLENT CLASHES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 30, 15 November 1943, Page 3

VIOLENT CLASHES

THE DISORDERS IN LEBANON.

FIGHTING FROM BARRICADES FATALITIES ON BOTH SIDES. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, November 12. The unrest in Beirut, in Lebanon, is assuming more serious proportions. Persons arriving at Cairo say that violent clashes have occurred between the population and French tanks, armoured cars, and infantry. Senegalese troops attempting to occupy the home of the Lebanese president (Alfred Makkache) were resistted by his friends, who barricaded themselves inside. The Sengealese finally withdrew. A French officer who shot a small Lebanese boy for tearing up the French flag was himself killed by the enraged mob.

The populace are reported to have stormed and set .fire to Parliament Building and torn down French posters proclaiming the suspension of the constitution.

French aeroplanes dropped leaflets on the city appealing for calm. A “Daily Express” correspondent Who flew to Beirut said the fiercest clash occurred in the Moslem quarter of Beirut when the Lebanese from behind street barricades and armed with grenades and revolvers fought French machine-gunners and riflemen for about 20 minutes. The casualties included killed on both sides. French tanks afterwards demolished the barricades and, as the tanks went slowly along firing into the side streets, grenades were thrown, setting fire to two tanks. All Shops Closed. Similar disturbances were occurring in Tripoli where nearly every Frenchoccupied or French-owned house was either burned or looted. All shops in .Beirut and Tripoli are closed. “Feeling is running very hight in Beirut,” says the British United Press correspondent in the city. “The French are breaking up and sometimes firing against crowds gathering at the gates of the British and American Legations. At least three American students were wounded when French marines fired on a crowd of 300 youths.” M. Emile Edde, whom the French Committee of National Liberation appointed to carry on the business of the Lebanese Government, has not left his house in Beirut since Thursday.

The insurgent movement is reported to be headed by two Lebanese Ministers who evaded arrest and formed a new independent Lebanese governmnt operating from secret headquarters.

The Druze tribesmen am reported to be gathering with the intention of moving against the French.

French Statement.

The communique announcing this in Algiers says: “The French Committee has had a report on the situation* in Lebanon from the French DelegateGeneral, who has returned to Beirut with instructions of the most liberal terms, with a view to putting into effect as soon as possible the 1936 agreement by which the Lebanon States were to receive all the attributes of sovereignty. It appears that the Lebanon Cabinet transgressed its powers and deemed it advisable to take powers with a fait accompli without taking into consideration the rights and obligations of the mandatory Power regarding the mandate.”

General de la Valade (French Com-mander-in-Chief in Lebanon) told the press he was visiting Cairo to report to General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson (Cammander-in-Chief in the Middle East) to give an accurate picture of the Lebanon situation, a wrong picture of which had been given by outride sources. General de la Valade said the Lebanese people were calm and the country was quiet, except for minor incidents. The only casualties were a French non-commissioned officer and several civilians . wounded. He denied that Senegalese troops had arrested Lebanese statesmen and deplored foreign intervention, adding that France and Lebanon could settle their differences peacefully if left alone.

Speedy Solution Essential

Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says the British Minister (Mr Harold MacMillan) has conveyed the British views of the Lebanon crisis to M. Rene Massigli (French Commissioner for Foreign Affairs). The British view is believed to be that M. Jean Helleu (French delegate in Lebanon) is not master of the situation. British representations on which discussions are proceeding are believed to be concentrated on the military implications of handling the Lebanon crisis, with special application to Britain’s immediate strategic interests.

Mr MacMillan is stated to have contended that a speedy solution is essential.

The “London Star” says it is emphasised in London that Lebanon is situated in an area of vital strategic importance, for which British forces have the responsibility. The Government cannot allow a state of disorder to persist or develop in any part of the area.

The Egyptian Prime Minister (Nahas Pasha) said to-day: “In the name of the Arab countries, I demand that the legal Lebanese Government resume office with all dignity and freedom and work for the independence of Lebanon.”

It is officially announced in Algiers that the French Committee of National Liberation is establishing a Lebanon constitution as defined within the framework of the mandate granted to France after the last war.