A FRENCH PROPOSAL

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

A FRENCH PROPOSAL

CONFERENCE OF POWERS LONDON, June 7.

France has invited the United States, Britain, Russia, and China to participate in a conference on the Middle East crisis, says the Associated Press Paris correspondent. It is reported authoritatively that the French Embassies in the lour capitals have been instructed to present the invitations, including a statement of France’s reason for seeking the conference.

The Press Association’s diplomatic correspondent says the British Government received a Note from the French Government setting forth the French view regarding the next steps to be taken to meet the Levant crisis. “I understand the French view remains that the position, not only in the Levant, but in the whole Middle East, should be discussed by the five great Powers,” he writes. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says that Sir Edward Grigg indicated that Britain was opposed to the French proposals for an “ all-in ” consideration of the Middle East problems by the big

Powers. He said: “Britain maintains that the conference should be limited to the United States, Britain, France, and the Levant States. I am hopeful of a peaceful solution of the Levant crisis. There is no reason why the dispute should not be settled amicably.” Britons Not Responsible

Sir Edward strongly denied that British agents caused the Levant disturbances. He also denied that the French used lend-lease arms in the Levant fighting. General Oliva Roget, the former French commander at Damascus, speaking at a press conference in Paris, declared that British officials helped to inflame Syrian opinion against the French. They included Colonel David Stirling and Colonel Marsack, the latter a New Zealander who had embraced the Moslem faith. “ They have for a long time been agents provocateurs,” said General Roget. (Colonel Stirling, who worked with Lawrence in Arabia in the last war, is reported to be at present in Syria.) General Roget added that the French had entirely restored order at Damascus by the morning of May 31, and the British intervened the same evening. “I did not give the, order to bombard Damascus. The Syrians fired on us first, and we then fired two shots of cannon into the sandbagged 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 revolt.”

General Roget declared that from May 19 onward there was an unceasing stream of British lorries entering the citadel building in Damascus. Trouble in Damascus started on May 29, when groups of armed men started disorders at Britain’s behest. “The object was to force France to say she was no longer able to maintain order, and ask for British support. Whether the action was local or the British officials had the support of their Government is for the British themselves to say.”