NO ENCROACHMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 41, 16 August 1941, Page 10

NO ENCROACHMENT

FRENCH INTERESTS

SYRIA AMD LEBANON AFTER THE WAR

BRITISH ASSURANCE

(Rec. 1.15 p.m.) RUGBY, August 15. The Minister of State, Captain Oliver Lyttelton, has written as follows to the Free French leader, General dc Gaulle:— "At the conclusion of our talk today: I was happy to repeat to you the as- I surance that Britain has no interest in! Syria and the 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 the Lebanon. When thir essential step has been taken, and without prejudice, we will freely admit that France should have a predominant position in Syria and the Lebanon over any other European Power. It is in this spirit that we have always acted. You will have seen the recent utterances of Mr. Churchill in this sense. I am glad 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 a 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 of the agree- ! ment." I General de Gaulle replied: "I have received the letter you were kind enough to send to me following our interview today. I am happy to take note of your renewed assurances regarding the disinterestedness of Britain in Syria and the Lebanon and the fact that Britain admits as a basic principle the pre-eminent and privileged position of France when these countries 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 victory against the common enemy."—B.O.W.