LEBANESE DEMONSTRATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 November 1943, Page 5

LEBANESE DEMONSTRATIONS

POLICE JOIN CROWDS LONDON, November 23. Demonstrations are taking place m Beirut and the police are joining the crowds, says a Cairo message. Iht Chamber of Deputies is reported to have been occupied by crowds who were accompanied by a number ql Deputies. The new Lebanese flag is being hoisted everywhere. The British Minister in Lebanon (Major-General Sir Edward Spears) said'that the British solution to the problem in Lebanon did not dittei widely from that proposed by General Catroux. The decision ol the French Committee in Algiers was awaited. Britain’s interest in the maintenance of order in Lebanon had been strongly impressed on the French. • z, • “There is little inclination m Cairo and Lebanon to accept the measures announced by the French National Committee as anything more than preliminary steps,” says the Cairo correspondent of “The Times. Unless these are rapidly followed by arrangements acceptable to the Lebanese serious trouble may occur. There is considerable Lebanese resentment about the French insistence on the word ‘mandate.’ The Lebanese point of view is that mandates have ceased to exist and that the use of the term places the Lebanese in an inferior position. The Lebanese tuliy realise that between France and Lebanon there are special ties, but such relations must be on a basis ql equality. Grateful recognition ‘is made of the part played by the British.”

STATEMENT IN COMMONS

RUGBY, November 23

British, views on the Lebanese situation were explained in the Oommoos by the Minister ol State (Mr. Richard' Law), who said His Majestey’s Government had been gravely concerned about, the development ol the recent dispute between the French Committee of National Liberation and the Lebanese Government. He detailed the course of developments in Lebanon and reiterated the reasons for the British concern at the dispute. . The overriding desire, of the British Government, he said, had been to secure a solution of the dispute, restoration of calm, and resumption of constitutional development. “lam glad to say the Lebanese President and members of the Government have been released, the President reinstated, and the French Delegate General recalled. His Majesty's Government welcomes these developments and at the same time hopes they will lead to further progress and the re-establishment of constitutional government. The American and Soviet Governments have been kept fully informed throughout.’ GEN. SPEARS’ COMMENT (Recd. 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 23. The French Acting Delegate-Gen-eral at Lebanon, M. Chataigneau, announced the reinstatement of the Lebanese Chamber. He also said the appointment of M. Edde, as Provisional Administratior, was cancelled. In a statement to the Press at Beirut, Gen. Spears defined the British attitude towards the Lebanon crisis. “Britain made it clear the release of the imprisoned President and Ministers was considered only the first step towards a satisfactory solution of the crisis. I have reason to believe the solution we have in mind is not very different from that of Gen. Catroux. It remains to be seen whether Gen. De Gaulle and the French Committee will come to the same realisation ouickly enough. It has alreadv been made abundantly clear to the French That we are vitally interested in the

maintenance of order in this area, which is of the highest importance to us from the military viewpoint.”