TROOPS CLASH IN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 5

TROOPS CLASH IN

SYRIA SERIOUS SITUATION Opposition To France Hardening By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyrigh: (Rec. 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. More fighting has been taking place between French troops and Syrians in Damascus.

The Beirut radio said that young Syrians are joining up to fight against the French oppressors for the liberation of Syria.

The “Fidahi” Party denounced all collaborators and those maintaining relations with the French. Syrian tradesmen have been invited to withdraw their funds from the banks, and parents not to send their children to French schools. A railway bridge between Aleppo and Hama was dynamited early to-day, reports Reuter's Damascus correspondent. The Acting-Premier of Syria. Jamil Bey. told a Press conference in Damascus to-day that 80 Syrians had been killed and 300 wounded since relations between France and Syria had reached a crisis.

Jamil Bey said he did not know who was responsible for the explosion yesterday north of Hama, in which three persons were killed and 14 wounded, including three Syrian Deputies and a British soldier.

The Beirut correspondent of the United Press states that the explosion occurred when a train carrying French reinforcements was derailed north of Hama.

Jamil Bey to-day received the British and American Ministers, and conferred with the Lebanese Prime Minister. Abdul Karameh. They are working out a joint Lebanese-Syrian policy for the forthcoming Arab conference in Cairo.

M. Bidault issued a statement in Paris declaring that France’s Intention was to agree to full independence for Syria and the Lebanon, and to the withdrawal of all troops, but not until agreement had been reached safeguarding French economic and cultural interests, including the Mosul petrol plant and protection of the pipeline. Fifteen hundred Arab students demonstrated in the streets of Jaffa today against the closing of the Government High School, when the pupils went on strike in sympathy with the Lebanon and Syria. French Version “France is prepared to crown her recognition of the independence of Syria with the 'withdrawal of her garrison troops, but first wishes to settle a number of outstanding questions,” said M. Bidault, in a report to Cabinet on the situation in the Levant. This was given out by the Paris radio. “It is a known fact that Syria and the Lebanon juridically are placed under the mandate granted to France bv the League of Nations,” he added. “France, while waiting for international decision, which will permit her to renounce this mandate, has recognised the complete independence of Syria and the Lebanon. She has only reserved the right to keep there a number of troops needed for the maintenance of order.

“France wishes primarily to ensure that her cultural interests will be safeguarded in these countries of French influence, where she has founded so many schools. The Statutes, freedom and rights of these establishments must be recognised and protected after her troops have left. “France also wishes agreements with Syria and the Lebanon to guarantee her economic interests there. France, by the treaty which ended the war of 1918. received an important share of mosul oil, which was shipped to France by tankers loaded in Syria. Oil also crossed Syria by pipeline—protection for which must be ensured. France finally intends to guard her strategic interests, and must be sure that she can use her air bases on the route from France to the Far Eeast, and that her warships can put into certain ports. “France recently through her delegates in Beirut let it be known that she wishes to conclude definite agreements consecrating the total independence of Syria and the Lebanon, but the respective Governments of these countries refused to open discussions. France simultaneously has had to relieve two battalions. Malicious propaganda and distored information Imnlied that France is resorting to intimidation and blackmail, and that she is trying to obtain, by display of force and by threats, what could not be obtained by negotiations. Such opinion is completely erroneous and belies the French attitude.”

Attitude of Britain The Foreign Secretary (Mr Anthony Eden), replying to questions in the House of Commons on Syria and the Lebanon, said the British were actively consulting with the French and American Governments, and it would be inexcusable if developments there were to interfere with the prosecution of the war. The Foreign Secretary was asked by Major-General Sir Edward Spears, formerly British Minister in Beirut, what steps the Government was taking to implement its .pledge to maintain the independence of Syria and the Lebanon, in view of the recent arrival of French reinforcements and the announcement of the withdrawal of a British brigade. Mr Eden said that a serious situation had arisen in Syria, and the French had sent reinforcements which had recently arrived at Beirut. About the same time the French DelegateGeneral brought French proposals for a final settlement between the French and the Levant States. Considerable popular excitement had been caused, and there had been disturbances in Homs and Hama, and on a lesser scale in Damascus and Aleppo. There was also some tension in some other parts of the Middle East. The net increase in French troops was very small, said Mr Eden—about 500 men—but the British Government had told the French Government of its fear that their arrival might cause regrettable actions. A British brigade had been in Syria a short period for routine training, but it had no connection with those events. Britain was in active consultation about those developments with the French and American Governments, which also were closely concerned because the tension in the Middle East was liable to affect one of their lines of communication to the Far East. Caution and Prudence Mr Eden thought that in the interests of a settlement it would not be desirable for him to say more than that at the moment. Meanwhile, he was sure, the House would share his hopes that, all parties involved in the present discord would behave with caution and prudence. .It would be inexcusable if developments in Syria or Lebanon 'were to create a situation which would interfere with the prosecution of the war in the Far East. Nothing in the present situation would justify such a development. British responsibility was to try to the best extent in our power to bring about an improvement in the situation between the two Levant States, of which we are friends, and our great Allied friends across the Channel. Asked whether he would bear in mind the arrangements Britain had in Iraq. Mr Eden said the difficulty was to produce a situation in .which the arrangements they had made in Iraq could be repeated, and that needed confidence between the negotiating parties, which, unhappily, was not in existence now. Increasing: Gravity A joint statement issued by the Syrian and Lebanon Legations in London says: “Official news from Syria and the Lebanon shows a state of affairs of increasing gravity, and that unless the French modify their demands, it will be impossible to foretell the consequences. We have learned lately that French soldiers attacked Syrian police and gendarmerie in Damascus, also officials in Aleppo, and entered and searched the Governor’s house in Alepno. “The present differences are onlv one chapter in the long, continuous

story of the Struble beginning 25 years ago. It was hoped that the Allied proclamation of the countries’ independence in 1941 w 7 ould have ended (he long discord. Unfortunately the French have been trying from time to time to prevent the Lebanon and Syria from achieving their rightful aims and exercising full independence and sovereignity. “Tire French have now put forward demands not mentioned before. The reply 7 of the Lebanon and Syrian Governments was that they would never accept such claims. The French claim a privileged position, bringing up various arguments such as that if France does not occupy a prominent position, another Power would mse such argument to fu-'ifv dominaion of th» free, independent peoples, but this canot be taken seriously or discussed, especially when a worldwide organisation is setting out to the peace and security of the