French In Syria

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 129, 2 June 1945, Page 7

French In Syria

BRITISH ORDERS ACCEPTED

Kec. noon. * LONDON, June 1. A communique issued in Paris today says that France has declined to comply with the British request that the French troops in Syria should retire to their barracks. The Government, however, has ordered the French commanders in Syria to cease fire and maintain their troops at positions they occupy at present.

The French Cabinet, after a long meeting at which the Foreign Minister, M. Bidault, reported fully on the situation, issued the following statement: "The Government approved the instructions given to the French representatives in the Levant to avoid any pretext for further discord, and at the same time to maintain the present positions of the French troops.''

respondent of "The Times." "Even those French people who criticise the decisions that brought on the crisis retain two convictions: First, that the French claims on Lebanon and Syria are reasonable and justified; and, secondly, that no serious disorders would have arisen if the Syrians had not felt that thay could count on British support against France whatever they did. Most French people who have lived in the Middle East affirm that the Syrians more than once have been incited to oppose French proposals. There is even talk of publishing documents in support of that thesis." FRENCH PRESS BITTER. The French Press is unanimous in bitter comment on what it describes as Mr. Churchill's "ultimatum" on the Levant, says the. Exchange Telegraph agency's correspondent in Paris. The newspapers take the view that the "ultimatum and President Truman s declaration have put France in the gravest situation and operate to her detriment. It is recognised that General de Gaulle's foreign policy is at stake. Some of the newspapers, while main- j taining that they have never supported ; the policy, strongly emphasise the j necessity of rallying round General de j Gaulle now i The Press comment generally ex-j presses a desire for maintenance otj good relations between Britain and France. "Combat" says that France should not make a show of force which she cannot back up. The Conservative "Figaro" says the form and content of Mr. Churchill's Note indicated British nervousness over the disturbances in the Levant. "Le Nation" states: "This is a moment for France to preserve. calm. She has the right to ask others to follow this example." SHOCK TO BRITISH PUBLIC. The "Daily Mail" is of the opinion that the sudden crisis involving AngloFrench relations comes as a great shock to the British public. The public knew that, the position in the Levant had deteriorated, but were not prepared for anything like the ultimatum which the British Government presented to General de Gaulle. The "Daily Express" says: "Never was there a clearer case for swift, incisive action. Britain will be thankful in days ahead that her leadership was sfrong and resolute at this time, for further neglect would assuredly have thrown the whole Aral* world into a ferment and caused a most perilous situation." "The Times" says in an editorial:; "Public opinion, irrespective of party, j is wholly behind the Government in | its determination to ensure a peaceful; outcome of the dangerous situation in the Levant. The issues at stake are vital and warrant no half-hearted or faltering treatment. It is to be hoped that those sections of French opinion which are inclined to regard the Levant situation as' a matter purely domestic to France will now realise the limitations of this view."

A British Press officer in Beirut said the French agreed to accept British orders in a talk which took place in Beirut a few hours after the announcement of Mr. Churchill's intervention. General de Gaulle has not yet replied to the British Note, and the new French Minister of Information, M. Soustelle. said he could not say whether General de Gaulle would reply to Mr. Churchill. In a reply to the United States Note, General de Gaulle states: "The ceasefire order was given because France wishes to avoid further bloodshed and does not want conflict between British and French troops." The British United Press correspondent in Paris says: "There is a great deal of confusion in official circles in Paris today over the situation. It is still not clear whether the cease-ure order was given on General de Gaulle's authority or on the initiative of the French commander in the Levant" General Paget and other high British officers have arrived in Lebanon to supervise the work of restoring order in the Levant. Accompanied by the British Minister, Mr. Terence Shone, they visited the President of the Lebanese Republic, El Khoury, in Beirut. A crowd cheered the British party, who drove to the meeting escorted by two British armoured cars and a jeep. General Paget had a long conversation with the Lebanese Prime Minister. Karameh. and his Cabinet. The Press Association's diplomatic correspondent says steps will be taken to hold tripartite talks in London on the Levant situation at the earliest possible moment. France has already besn invited to send a representative, but it is not yet known whether General de Gaulle or M. Bidault will attend. Mr. Eden is almost certain to represent Britain, and Mr. Winant the United States of America. Russia is not likely to be represented. When the conversations have been .in progress for some time, representatives of Syria and Lebanon will be invited to join in. MESSAGE MISTRANSLATED. It is learned that a bad impression was created in Paris by faulty translation of Mr. Churchill's message to General de Gaulle. The words, "Request troops to cease fire," were given as: "Require troops to cease fire." French feelings were somewhat mollified by the new translation issued this morning. Information received from Syria today indicates that the situation there is well in hand and that the French commanders are .complying with General Paget's instructions, says the Press Association- No details can be given of- the British troops available, but it can be said that they are in sufficient strength to see that the Government's policy is put into effect. The French troops are not in great strength. There are six or seven metropolitan battalion? totalling between 9000 and 10.000 troops, about half of -whom are Senegalese, with French officers. There are certain tank squadrons, troops of an armoured corps, some batteries of seventy-fives, and a number of planes. There are also about 21,000 troops recruited in Syria. Conciliatory comment in all but extreme de Gaullist circles characterises the French reaction to. the British intervention, says Reuters Paris corres-, pondent. The newspapers emphasise Britain's experience in Middle East affairs, and accuse Nazi agents and French Fascists of stirring up trouble M. Pierre Cot, former Minister of Air, and ay leading Radical Socialist, said"lf we do not wish to see the situation deteriorate, especially in North Africa, we must, change our policy. French democracy should help to free the' Arab world, not oppose it." The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says that.the evening papers are unanimous in blaming non-French sources, ranging from German agent? to the British, for the Levant situation. The newspaper "Le Monde," which is reputed to reflect Government says: "At the exact moment when General Beynet, the French representative -in the Levant, telegraphed that he was master of the situation, the British chose to intervene." A statement issued by the French Ministry of Information today declared that French troops had been blamed for actions committed by Syrian and Lebanese troops commanded by Syrian and Lebanese officers and that happenings in the Levant had been greatly exaggerated. A correspondent says that outside official circles no one knows in France whether this claim is justified or not. The Government has given little or no information of what has been going on. At no time did any official source reveal the fact that Damascus had been bombarded. It is reliably estimated that at least 100 were killed and 400 wounded by 11 a.m. yesterday in fierce fighting in Damascus, says Reuters Damascus correspondent in a delayed dispatch. Shelling in Damascus ceased late yes-» terday, and small arms fire inside the town died down at about 9 p.m. Reuters correspondent says that while the Muezzim was calling the faithful to pray in Damascus at dusk on Wednesday a plane which was believed to be French flew over the worshippers and dropped three bombs. Heavy calibre guns in a fort four miles west of Damascus hit an Ameri-1 can school in the thickly populated district of Souk Sarouja. The correspondent adds that a British woman welfare worker, Mrs. Maria Gray, ■who was noted for her good services to the British troops in Damascus, and who refused to leave, was killed by a shot in the back while walking ur> the stairs of her house.