LEBANON CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25385, 17 November 1943, Page 3

LEBANON CRISIS

STRONG BRITISH PROTEST SHOOTING OF STUDENTS i SERIOUS RIOTING CONTINUES (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 16. The political correspondent of the Daily Express says that the Brtish Minister in the Middle East, Mr Harold Macmillan, was instructed to protest vigorously to General de Gaulle about the shooting of students outside the British Embassy in Beirut. Mr Macmillan was told to protest in direct and unmistakable terms.

In reply to the protest from the Egyptian Prime Minister, Nahas Pasha, regarding the French action in Lebanon, the French Committee of National Liberation stated: “The question can best be solved by the French and the Lebanese alone. The matter is well understood by the real friends of Lebanon.’’

To this Nahas Pasha replied: “The fact that the whole world condemns the French action affords the best distinction between the real friends of Lebanon and those who sacritice truth and justice for selfish motives.” The Ankara radio reports that King Ibn Saud, of Saudi Arabia, joined King Farouk and the Government of Iraq in a protest to the French Committee against the events in Lebanon. The French Committee’s delegate, M. Jean Helleu, at a press conference in Beirut, said the decision to arrest the Lebanese President and the Cabinet was taken by the French Committee in Algiers. He warned General de Gaulle that there might be trouble, but General de Gaulle instructed him to go ahead and make the arrests. Emile Edde, a Lebanese lawyer, has formed a Provisional Government for the Lebanon, composed of seven directors of public services and five district administrators, one each from the office of administrative services and the internal security forces. The French appointed Edde leader of the temporary Government after the arrest of the President and others last week. Edde, in a statement, said the first task of the Government would be to ensure adequate food supplies. When the situation was normal again he would attempt to make the Government more representative of the country’s different political tendencies. General Catroux Arrives General Catroux arrived at Beirut and has already conferred with the French and British authorities, says Reuter’s Haifa correspondent. Reports from Beirut state that there were no further clashes in the capital on Sunday and yesterday. The capital shows ,no signs of life and all shops and offices are closed. Communications with outside have been suspended. Strong military patrols with tanks are patrolling the streets. The Ankara correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph says that according to travellers from Syria and the Lebanon serious rioting, with the firing of shots, was still going on on Sunday in Beirut and Tripoli. All shops in Aleppo are closed and traffic is at a standstill. "The situation in the Lebanon is extremely grave,” says the news director of the British Ministry of Information in the Middle East (Mr O. Ryan) on his return to Cairo from Beirut. He reiterated the British Ministry of Information statement that Senegalese troops were used to arrest the President of the Lebanon, thui countering the French denial made yesterday. Mr R. G. Casey, who retui'ned from Beirut yesterday, estimated that the casualties as a result of the Lebanon disturbances so far total 140, of which 10 or 12 were fatal. 'Mr Casey saw General Catroux in Cairo this morning, and amplified and explained the British position, in regard to the Lebanon. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says the British take a much graver view of the Lebanon position than is evident on the French side. Mr Harold Macmillan has made further representations to the French National Committee.

It is understood that, despite the vehement French denials, reports through British channels indicate that disorder is continuing, not only at Beirut, but at several places throughout the country. A number of women and children were killed when a French tank fired on crowds. A High-handed Act

The Observer, in a leading article, says that the President and Prime Minister, and the Government of Lebanon, which was freely and legally constituted, blame General de Gaulle for a high-handed act. It suggests that a White Paper should be published at once, giving the full story of “ Our relations with General de Gaulle, and not limited to the present crisis.” The Observer’s diplomatic correspondent says that Britain’s response to the crisis is being closely* watched by the Arab peoples. It will be taken as an indication of the manner in which Britain intends to treat its. commitments and responsibilities throughout the Arab world.

The diplomatic correspondent of the Manchester Guardian comments that the French seem inclined to regard the affair as a test case provoked by forces beyond, as well as inside, the territory which are working for a national and international reorganisation of the Arab world. He adds: “It is difficult to judge the soundness of this point of view, but it undoubtedly makes the position more difficult. But however this may be, it does not account for the uncollaborative attitude adopted by the French Committee.”