The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-11-13
CATROUX IS SENT
T0LEBAN0N AREA
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planning the French attitude at
length and closing with the asser-
ton that under the influence of
elements who are not interested in
Lebanon's independence and who
are more anxious to push France
out of those regions, the Lebanese
government, in spite of its inter-
national obligations and deciding
to act by force, put a tfait &C.
compli' before the French National
Committee"
The statement went on to say
that the committee ''of its own
free will would have given Lebanon
its constitutional independence"
and concluded:
THE French could not accept
this hostile act. France, however,
intends to fulfill as soon as pos
sible the mission with which she
is entrusted by leading Lebanon
to complete independence"
With an electric atmosphere re-
ported over the Middle East, many
Christian and Moslem leaders ap-
pealed to Sir Edward Spears, Brit
ish minister to Lebanon with
Mornings that unless British
authorities took some action to
settle the crisis there would be
bloodshed.
In the capital city of Beirut it.
self, street crowds swarming into
the main square brought traffic
to a standstill. although there has
been no further req orts of rioting
since that yesterday in which sew
eral casualties occurred with one
or Two French officers believed
killed.
In Jerusalem, the all-Palestine
conference of the Arab chamber
of commerce called a nationwide
general strike for tomorrow.
The extent of the British de-
marche was not disclosed, but it
may have suggested the release
OF the arrested Lebanese leaders.
who had sought to modify the re-
public's constitution to make it, in
their view, more compatible with
Lebanese sovereignty
Sir Harold was instructed to in
form. the French authorities that
Britain adheres firmly to its dec
laration supporting the assurances
OF independence given to Lebanon
on June 8, 1941, and will permit
no disorders in an area of vital
strategic importance.
Cairo dispatches indicated that
French Commissioner Jean Helleu
had ordered new elections in Leb-
anon on the ground that the pre-
vious government had been elected
under pressure and was not rep
resentative of the country, andl
had asked Emil EDDIE to form a |
new government.
Egypt also protested the French
action formally, and as KZg Fa-
rouk awaited reply heb called
Alexander Kirk and Terrence
Shone, American and British min
listers to Cairo, to his palace for
special conferences.
Cairo dispatches detailing tn e
arrests of the Lebanese officials
said the speaker of the chamber
of deputies. Sabri Himmada, and
other members refused to leave
Parliament house when the build
ing was surrounded by Fr ench
troops.
The Arab news agency said Sen
egalese troops under Helleus' Or
ders entered the premier's home
early yesterday morning and es-
corted MIN away.
Other French marines and. Sene-
galese broke down the bedroom
door which the president and his
wife had barricaded and smashed
furniture while searching for pa
pers, the agency said.
Among others arrested were re-
ported to have been two outstand-
ng Moslem leaders, Minister of
Supply Abel Osseiran, leader of
he Shah Moslems in the Sidon
and Abdul Hamid, Kara
nth leader of the Tripoli Moslens.
The London Evening News sum-
ned up the situation this way to-
lay:
de Gaulle's craftsmanship, now
hat he is the political head of
he French committee, is on trial