Evening star., 1943-11-14
Britain Warns French
Disorders May Bring
Seizure Of oflebanon
9S the Associated Press

ey the Associated Press
LONDON, Nov. -13.-The British
Government made it clear today
that it was ready to seize control
quickly In Lebanon if necessary to
protect the strategic Middle East,
following reports of clashes be-
tween the French and Lebanese ma
tionalities. British troops already
are on the spot if needed.
While the French controlled Bel
rut radio announced that the situ-
alton in Syria and Lebanon was
quiet and charged that reports of
disturbances were enemy propa-
ganda.' the British showed that
they definitely did not share this
view.
Although British officials de-
clined to say whether Britain might
employ armed forces in the crisis,
news correspondents were told they
could not exaggerate the impor-
tance the Government attaches to
maintaining order in the Near East.
Particularly, it was emphasized,
NAoOAaCA Sdll ilOU OC II
this vital area, for which British
troops are responsible. The British
are understood to have made this
plain to Gen. Charles de Gaulle's
French Committee of National Lib
Grafton in their protest over the
arrest of Lebanese leaders this week
by the French
Catroux Leaving for Beirut.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Algiers said that Gen. Georges Ca
trouX, commissioner of state of the
French Committee, would leave by
plane tomorrow for Beirut.
His designation to handle the
problem was interpreted in Algiers
as serving as preparation for the
committee to disavow the adminis-
trative policy in Lebanon that pre-
cipitated the disturbances. A spokes-
man for the committee said Jean
Helleu, French Committee represen-
tative in the Levant, acted on his
own initiative in dissolving the
Lebanese Parliament and arresting
governme leaders there.
Harold Macmillan, British Min
lister in Algiers, said M. Helleu's
actions were taken without con-
sulting the British who had under
written Gen. Catroux's pledge to
the Lebanese.
Press dispatches received at Cairo
said M. Helleu in a proclamation
addressed to the Lebanese people
declared he was informing their
leaders of his intention to begin
conversations in the name of the
French Committee aimed at putting
the promised independence of the
country into practice.
May See Egyptian Premier.
He was quoted as saying that the
conversations would be conducted on
the French side lin the most liberal
spirit and with the greatest under
standing of the just aspirations of
the Lebanese people to independ-
ence"
Gen. CatrouX is expected to stop
in Cairo to deliver Gen. de Gaulle's
reply to vigorous protest by Nahas
Pasha, Egyptian premier, against
the arrest of the Lebanese presi-
dent and cabinet members and the
dismissal of the newly elected par
lament and the establishment of a
new government. More than half
of the population of Lebanon is
Arab.
German propaganda machinery |
swung into action to make the most |
OF the crisis. DNB, the German
news agency, asserted in a broad
cast that the outbreaks were To-
mented by British intrigue" in a !
move destined in the long run to |
take the wind out of Arab endeavors !
to create Arabian unity"
DNB continued that the British
deliberately let De Gaulle burn his
fingers so that a crisis would be
created which will furnish them
with the preteXt for playing them
selves up as guarantors and pro-
tectors of the small nations-the
Middle East"
Nazis Report Street Fighting.
DNB asserted tonight that street
fighting continues in Lebanese
towns with the situation unchanged
"Lebanese troops are defending
themselves courageously," the Nazl
broadcast said, and De Gaulles