Intervention In The Levant

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24582, 2 June 1945, Page 6

Intervention In The Levant

The news from London of British intervention in the crisis in the Levant will be generally welcomed. Every effort at conciliation having failed, the British Government, in the face of a situation that was rapidly becoming disastrous, had nd option blit to take a firm, strong stand and in effect compel an end to activities that hold the threat of unlimited Calamity ih the Middle East. President Truman's approval of Britain’s step Will immeasurably strengthen her in dealing with a desperate situation. General de Gaulle, ndt for the first time, has proved himself an unwary arid clumsy politician. His resort to measures with which he is mote familiar is not to be tolerated arid ‘cah certainly not be justified, even if he were i()0 per cent, right in all his claims. Britain's need of a friendly France in a difficult postwar world is undeniable; but If France’s friendship ifc to be wort and retained at the cost of catastrophe in the Middle East, with world-wide repercusSiohS, the cost is too great. Britain bafiftot go on making allowances fbr “France’*! ** sensitiveness ” if it takes the fprni of resorting to force immediately she cannot gain her oWn way by other means. Apart from any othet consideration, Britain’s OWn stake in the Middle East is much greater than that of France; arid She knows that if a general clash were to occur, the Arab world would be thrown into violent convulsion. Incalculably harmful results could, fot example, follow the spread of conflict to Palestine, where one spark could set off art explosion of alarming magnitude. Moreover, Britain’s guarantee was given four years ago to the promise of independence to the Syrians and Lebanese, and nothing has happened in the interval to cause her to Withdraw it. HkVing given :her promise, she is in honour bound to see that it iS fulfilled. The possibility of a breach ol the? security of, the Middle East indefinitely prolonging the agony Of the World is not to be thought of. France will have to follow the adVlcO so wisely given by the United States tb refrain from any act Which might give rise to suspicion that. She mMy Be pursuing a policy not in conformity with the spirit of the principles which the international security organisation in the process of being created at Sah Francisco is being established tb defend, Ahy other way lies madness. if --