SYRIA'S FUTURE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 193, 16 August 1941, Page 1 (Supplement)

SYRIA'S FUTURE

ASSURANCES GIVEN

Notes Exchanged By British And Free French British OlTicial Wireless. Rec. 5 p.m. RUGBY. Aug. 15. The British Minister of State in the Middle East, Mr. Oliver Lyttelton. has written to General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French, as follows: "At the conclusion of our talk to-day, I am happy to repeat to you the assurance that Britain has ho interest in Syria and Lebanon except to win the war. We have no desire to encroach in any way upon the position of France. Both Free France and Britain are pledged to the. independence of Syria and Lebanon.

'When this essential step has heen ; taken, and without prejudice, we ! freely admit that France should ! have a predominant position in Syria and Lebanon over any other Euro- : pean Power. It is in this spirit that j we have always acted. You will have seen recent utterances of Mr. Churchill. In this sense. I am glad j to reaffirm them now to our friends and Allies who have our full sympathy and support. •'On our side I am happy again to receive your assurances of the determination of Free France as the friend and ally of Britain, and in accordance with the agreements and declarations which you have already made to pursue relentlessly to the finish the war against the common enemy. I am happy that we should thus reaffirm our complete understanding and agreement/' General de Gaulle has replied: "I received the letter you were kind enough to send me following our interview to-day. I am happy to take note of your renewed assurances regarding the disinterestedness of Britain in Syria and Lebanon, and in fact Britain admits as a basic principle the pre-eminent antf privileged position of France when these shall have attained their independence, in conformity with the undertaking which Free France has taken in regard to them. I take this opportunity of repeating that Free France, that is to say France, is resolved to pursue the war at the side of Britain, her friend and ally, until the attainment of complete yictorv against the common enemy." General de Gaulle has appointed General I.e Ge»tilhomme comman-der-in-chief of the Free French forces in Africa.