TROUBLESOME ARABS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 19 July 1920, Page 7

TROUBLESOME ARABS.

A FRENCH ULTIMATUM

'BY IiJTiS—PKSSS •SSOr.IATXO^—COPYEIOIII

{Times.) (Received July 19,' 12.55 p.m.) CAIRO, July 18. Advices from-Haifa state General INouri arrived at Damascus and presented the Government's terms demanding the recognition of France s mandate over all Syria, the unrestricted use of military railways, the punishment of the Arab chiefs responsible for the recent outrages, and the ; suppression of anti-French movements -on the frontier. Feisal convened a war council, to discuss th e situation. It is feared that a section cf the Arabs are determined to fight to the last,, even if Damascus submits. The French iare ready for an immediate advance. They are well supplied with aeroplanes and artillery. A later message from Jerusalem states that the War Council at.Damascus a general mobilisation to the "French ultimatum. General Gourand awaits the formal reply till July 19, •and if a submission is not tendered, he proceeds to occupy Alleppo and march :upon Damascus. The French have alrready cut th e Rczak railway junction. Feisal sent an emissary to General Allenby to ask for his intervention. (Renter.) CAIRO.. July- 18. Advices from Damascus report that the Lebanon Administration Council declared the independence of Lebanon after refusing the French mandate. The declaration occasioned surprise, as the majority of the Council are Maronites, who are mostly supporters ot the French.