BRITISH VIEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22203, 24 November 1943, Page 3

BRITISH VIEWS

POSITION IN LEBANON

“GRAVELY CONCERNED”

HOPE OF SETTLEMENT (Omrial Wireless) (Received Nov. 24, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 23 The British views on the Lebanese situation were explained in the House of Commons by the Minister of State, Mr Richard Law, who said that the Government had been gravely concerned a 1 the development of the recent dispute between tne French Committee of National Liberation and the Lebanese GovernMr Law detailed the course of the development in Lebanon and reiterated the reasons for British concern at the dispute. The over-riding desire of the British Government, he said, had been to secure a solution of the dispute, the restoration of calm and the resumption of constitutional government. “I am glad to say that the Lebanese President and members of the Government have been released, the President reinstated, and the French Delegate-General recalled,” said Mr Law. “His Majesty’s Government welcomes these developments and at the same time hopes that they will lead to further progress and the re-establishment of constitutional government. The American and Soviet Governments have been kept fully informed throughout.”

Lebanon Chamber Re-established The French acting-Delegate-Gen-eral in Lebanon, M. Chataigneau, announced the reinstatement ot the Lebanese Chamber. He also said the appointment of M. Edde as provisional administrator had been cancelled.

In a statement to the press at Beirut Major-General Spears, British Minister, defined the British attitude towards the Lebanon crisis. “Britain made it clear that the release of the imprisoned President and Ministers was considered to be only the first step towards a satisfactory solution of the crisis,” he said. “I have reason to believe that the solution we have in mind is not very different from that of General Catroux. It remains to be seen whether General de Gaulle and the French Committee will come to the same realisation quickly enough. It has already been made abundantly clear to the French that we are vitally interested in the maintenance of order in this area, which is of the highest importance to us from the military viewpoint.” New Flag Hoisted

Demonstrations are occurring throughout Beirut and police are joining the crowds, says a Cairo message. The Chamber of Deputies has been occupied by crowds, who were accompanied by a number of deputies. The new Lebanese flag is being hoisted everywhere. Another report says that a few hours before the President returned to the city crowds broke open the doors of Parliament House to reinstate those deputies who were not arrested by the French. They were helped by Lebanese police. The new French delegate-general has issued an order repealing # the ruling of his predecessor, M. Edde, which suspended the Lebanese constitution, dissolved Parliament, and removed the President. General Catroux called on the President later and was applauded by the crowd. British Statement

A new British statement on the situation was made in Beirut last night by Major-General Sir Edward Spears, British Minister to Lebanon. General Spears made it clear that the British Government regarded the release and reinstatement of the President as only a first step in reaching a solution of the crisis. There is considerable Lebanese resentment at the French insistence on the word “mandate,” says the correspondent. The Lebanese viewpoint is that the mandate has ceased to exist and that the use of the term places the Lebanese in an inferior position. The Lebanese fully realise that between France and Lebanon there are special ties, but such relations must be on a basis of equality and grateful recognition made of the part played by the British. A successor has been appointed to M. Edde, the French delegate-general in the Middle East, whom the French National Committee has recalled. His successor has had considerable administrative experience and was recently secretary-general to the French delegation in Lebanon.