FRENCH BLAMED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 9 June 1945, Page 5

FRENCH BLAMED

CRISIS IN THE LEVANT ARAB LEAGUE STATEMENT London, June 7. The Arab League meeting in Cairo charged France with creating the Levant crisis in a statement issued tonight. ‘The French Government attacked Syria and the Lebanon and it was responsible for all that happened —murders, demolitions and losses,” says the statement. “The fact that there are French forces in Syria and the Lebanon is against the rights, sovereignty and independence of the two republics and exposes their lands and people to horrible incidents similar to those which recently occurred. The presence of French forces in Syria and the Lebanon has caused permanent tension of relations between France and the two Arab Republics, and this tension extends to the rest of the Arab countries, thus embarrassing the war efforts against Japan. The Arab League, for these reasons, supports the Syrian-Lebanese demand for the withdrawal of all French forces from the two republics and takes it for granted that no other foreign forces will remain in the Levant.” The Arab League statement added that in accordance with Clause Six of its constitution, the League had decided to take the necessary measures to resist French aggression and coordinate necessary efforts “in the light, probably, of international developments” to help the Syrians and the Lebanese achieve their aim, namely, independence, sovereignty, and the withdrawal of foreign troops. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BRITISH General Oliva Roget, former French commander of Damascus, speaking at a press conference in Paris declared British officials helped to inflame Syrian opinion against the French. They included Colonel David Stirling, Colonel Marsack. the latter of whom is a New Zealander, who embrased the Moslem faith. “They for a long time have been provacateurs,” said General Roget. (Colonel Stirling, who worked with Lawrence of Arabia in the last war, is reported to be at present in Syria). General Roget a'dded that the French had entirely lestored order in Damascus by the morning of 31st May and the British intervened the same evening. “I did not give the order to bombard Damascus. Syrians fired on us first. We then fired two shots from a cannon into sand-bagged and heavily armed buildings near my residence and opposite Parliament House. One French plane dropped three small bombs on the so-called citadel, which was the headquarters of the Syrian police where arms were being accumulated for weeks and men enrolled for the revolt.

From 19th May onward there was an increasing stream of British lorries entering the citadel building in Damascus. The trouble in Damascus started on 29th May, when groups of armed meii started disorders at Britain’s behest. “The object was to force France to say she was no longer able to maintain order and ask ter British support. Whether the action was local and British officials had to support the Government is for the British themselves te say”