ARABS ROUSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25866, 9 June 1945, Page 7

ARABS ROUSED

THE LEVANT CRISIS DISCUSSION BY LEAGUE CHARGE AGAINST FRANCE LONDON, June 7. In a statement issued to-night the Arab League meeting in Cairo charged France with creating the Levant crisis. “The French Government,” says the statement, “ attacked Syria . and the Lebanon, and it is responsible for all that happened—murders, demolitions, losses. The fact that there are French forces in Syria and the Lebanon is against the rights, sovereignty, and independence ol 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 caused permanent tension in the 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 and 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 statement added that in accordance with clause six of its constitution, the league decided to take the necessary measures to resist French aggression and co-ordinate necessary efforts, “in the light of probable international developments,” to help the Syrians and the Lebanese to achieve their main aim—namely, the independence and sovereignty and the withdrawal of foreign troops. Mr Gandhi advised Indian Moslems to seek the co-operation of all India if they wanted to help the Syrians and Lebanese. The voice of India divided against itself will have no effect in the council of nations. The French injustice in Syria and Lebanon was glaring.