GROWING WORSE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 12 June 1945, Page 5

GROWING WORSE

POSITION IN THE LEVANT DISTURBANCES AT ALEPPO

(Rec. 1 1 a.m.) r London, June 1 1. French Foreign Office sources to-night indicate that tha Levant position is growing worse and allege that the British authorities are not taking measures to protect the French, says the British United Press Paris correspondent. It is claimed that tension is mounting and the situation is becoming intolerable for the French. There were disturbances and numerous attacks against the French at Aleppo and nine people are reported to have been killed near Damascus, although the situation in Damascus is stated to be calm.

The French Foreign Office claims that French and special Syrian troops have | been evacuated to camps which are “very like prisons” and that large numbers of Syrians are deserting. It is stated in Paris that the British Government apparently wants to iron out the difficulties but that local British authorities in the Levant are acting in direct opposition to French interests. The French Government insists that a five-Power conference is the only solution, as Russia and America would then act as mediators. France has not yet received official replies to her Note to Britain. America, China and Russia. The British United Press Cairo correspondent reports that some Arabs States at the final meeting of the Arab League Council wanted the Arab world to break off diplomatic relations with France. One country even wanted to use force against her, but Egyptian delegates eventually persuaded the conference to take a calmer view of the situation.