1953-12-22 — Page 4

Page 4 **7

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""

“Triumph And Tragedy” Chapter 33

SERIOUS CRISIS IN THE LEVANT

HE liberation of

France led to

serious crisis in the Levant. It had been

By Sir Winston Churchill®

evident for some time that a troops had also been moved now treaty would b in without protest by the needed to define French Syrians or the Lebanese and rights in this area, and on without agreement by the my way home from Yalta I French. We had in fact ap- had met the President of pealed to the Syrian Gov- Syria in Cairo and urged him ernment on May 25 to keep to make a peaceful settle- control of the situation but ment with France.

on the 28th, they told us that events were too much The Levant States had for them and they could no bern unwilling to start longer be responsible for in- negotiations, but we had ternal order. persuaded them to do so and conversations

had begun.

and Aleppo;

volves communications for the war against Japan.

In order to avoid colli- sion beween British and French forces, we request you immediately to order the French troops to cease fire and to withdraw to their barracks. Once firing has ceared and or- der has been restored to we shall be prepared begin tripartito discuss- lons in London.

Fronch-shelling had be- The French delegate, Gen. gun in Homs and Hama: Beynet, went to Paris for French armoured cars were instructions, and his pro- patrolling the streets of

awaited with Damascus posals were anxiety and

excitement French aircraft were flying BY an error in transmis- throughout Syria. Delay og low over the mosques alon, and-with no inten- curred; no proposals arrived; during the hour of prayer, tional discourtesy, this mes- and then news spread that and machine guns were French reinforcements were mounted on the roofs of on their way.

buildinga.

On May 4 I had sent J friendly message to de Gaulle explaining that had no ambitions of any kind in the Levant States

We

Gon, Paget handled the dilun- tion with much discretion. All

J

passed off smoothly, ond this difficult and untoward Syrian episode came to an end. show full consideration to

A smaller though not less French. Wo

are very vaxatious dispute arose Intimately linked with France tween de Gaulle and President bew in Europe, and your greatest Truman. In the closing days of -trumph" will be to produce a

the

peace without rancour. Pray the fighting troops of the First ask for advice on any point French Army in the Alpins region you may need, apart from military operations.

In view of reports that Fronch soldiers have been killed, pray take the utmost pains to protect them.

And to the Syrian President, whom I deemed a sensible and competent man:

Now that we have come to

your aid I hope you will not

Italy, in

the

the frontier and moved into - North-Western province of Cuneo. Orders were presently issued by Gen. Eisenhower for their with drawal. These orders were 1g- nored by the French

units concerned under the authority of their Government.

make our task harder by ON May 30 Gen, Doyen, com-

Tho fury and exaggeration,

manding the French Army to French have got to have fair in the Alps, sent a letter

command- treatment as well as you and Gen Crillenberger, we British, who do not

of the United States th

covet

anything that you possens, EX- Corps in North-Western Italy, pect from you that modera- referring to an attempt to estabs-

en and helpfulness

Allied military govern- which Ush are due to our disinterested ment in the province of Cuneo. exertions.

The letter ended with the fol- lowing paragraph:

sage was read to the House of Commons by Mr Eden about three-quarters of on hour before it reached the General. He felt obliged to Our Intervention was im-.. issue a public reply in Paris mediately effective. On June 3 on June 1, saying in effect the French garrison at Damascus that the French troops had was withdrawn to a camp out- Tabout seven o'clock in been attacked by the tachment which had been land- side, the elty, and a British do- and would withdraw all our the evening of May 29 Syrians, but had everywhere ed at Beirut from H.M.S. troops from Syria and the fierce fighting began in gained control, and that the Arethusa arrived in the Syrian Lebanon as soon as the new Damascus between French French Government had capital on the same day. treaty was concluded and in troops and Syrians, and con- themacives ordered a "Cease. operation, but I also men- tinued for several hours in- fire" on May 31.. tioned that we had to keep to the night. French artil-

our war communications lery opened fire, with A vehement protest reach- throughout the Middle East serious loss of life and ed me from the President of free from disturbance interruption.

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and damage to property, and the Syrian Republic of ON Juno 4 Mr Shone, our Minister at Damascus, dell- French troops occupied the the action we had already vered my mesage to the Syrian Syrian Parliament buildings, taken proved effective. I was President, who took it well and We represented to him Shelling continued on and most anxious not to vex the sent the following reply: that the arrival of reinforce off till the morning of May French more than was in- was 31, and about 2,000 people evitable and I understood de bound to be looked upon as were killed and injured. Gaulle's view and mood a means of pressure, and

about a cause for which he might have serious con- The Governor of Home felt passionately. sequences. This advice was had already appealed to the not accepted, and on May 17 British Ninth Army to ar French troops landed at range a truce. It was now Beirut.

impossible for us to stand

aside, and, on May 31 Gen.

mander-in-Chief Middle

a

France cannot consent that a modification against her will should be made in the exist- ing state of affairs

In the Alpes Maritimes. This would be contrary to her honour and her security. I have been ordered by the Provisional Government of the French Republic to occupy and ad- minister this territory.

This mission being incom- patible with the installation of an Allied military agency in the same region, I And myself. obliged to oppose it. Any insistence in this direc- tion would assume a clearly unfriendly character, cuen d hostile character, and could have grave consequences,

I sent my message of May 31 to Your Excellency under stress of bombardment and of deep emotion at the sufferings ger which the Syrian people were from Gen. Doyen: undergoing, and which I as-

On June 2 Gen. Crittenber- received another Fetter

zure you were no

tion.

will

Your Excellent sera- since trave res

received

my mes- of June 1 expressing the sug: gratitude of the

for the interv Syrian people

British

of the

and my and

havo ns-

I

sured His Majesty's Minister and the Commander-in-Chief that our 'one desire is to co- operate with the British authorities in their task of restoring

Gen. de Gaulle Hag?dn- structed me to make as clear as possible to the Allied Com- mand that I have received the order to prevent the set- ting up of Allied military gov emment in territories eupled by our troops and ad- ministered by us by all. necessary means without ex- ception.

ეკლი

Sir Bernard Paget, Com BUT he also struck

statesmanlike note. East, was told to restore "We feel," he said, "not the followed. order. He communicated our slightest rancour or anger AN explosion

The Syrian and Lebanese request to the French com- towards the British. France on and myself have the high-

This was astonishing langungo Governments broke off mander, and the latter,

order and security to use in all the circumstances. in Syria, Your Excellency "Is it not rather disagreeable,” negotiations and said that, instructions from Paris, pro. est regard and affection for now the war was over, the claimed the "Cease fire." I them. But there are oppos- and these

can be sure that this co- I wrote to the President, when operation with the British Alexander reported tho facts, Allies would be asked to sent the following message ing interests,

must be reconciled. I hope

authorifice will soon have its "for us to be addressed in these evacuate all-foreign troops-to-Gen. de Gaulle:

all this will not have too far-good results.

terms by Gen de Gaulle, whom Anti-French strikes and de-

we Have reinstated in liberated In view of the grave roaching consequences.

"The President," Bold monstrations, began. Eight

Mr France at some expense of many com- people were killed and 25 in-

situation which has arisen There are too

Shone, who was ill in bed-American and British blood and interests at stake. when he sent his message

Cur of treasure? between your troops and mon jured in Aleppo. The Syrian

policy with May 31, is now up again and France is one of friendship." Chamber of Deputies order-

Levant States, and There must be peace."

seems fully composed. He is in ed conscription.

the severe fighting which

I was in accord with this full accord with you and deeply has broken out, we have view, and when I gave an ac- grateful. As regards fair treat- with profound regret or count of these regrettable in- ment for the French, he said House of Com→ they could have their schools dered the Commander- eldents to the

mors on June 5 I said it was a (If any Syns still in-Chief Middle East to

Trumf was dignant, of "the less said the go to them and their coo casc

clal interests

de Gaulle intervene to prevent the better."

but neither further effusion of blood

Syrian

30ernment nor the pointing out that the message Chamber no the people could bbie thredt i Funch troops contained the almofit debelky- ever give them any privilege beating Amerian arms would

Americ

A Foreign Office an- nouncement of May 26 re- gretting the arrival of French reinforcements drew a reply. from Paris next day that the disturbances were artificially provoked and that

many more British

Cummings

the

3 June 45,

*

in the interests of the Prime Minister to Gen, Paget security of the whole

As soon as you are master Middle East, which in-

of the situation you should

Me Wrot to

in this country after hat had happened."

soldiers,

0

HAM

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THE PAINT FARM ICH & QOLD STORAGE CO, LTD.

ith Service contributor to the Egyptian newspaper. Al Goumbouria doen a Dancing Major act to persuade

Pengemudikan kald Nie Shadow Cabinet to extend the Health-Bervice.

London Ezgress Berrion

and Allied efforts Land and huped France. The President said that As khe M 18 threat remained ho mor, qui hent or aamuni- tion would

ated to Froch Mon

This ploded intpodig

Hjults, Di Gayle wefto hra

his Foreign Ministon

· Tubviously there has Been an intention ther ggers of bio Frach digit or in

commade the

Alps,

Pinment of

oppies by force the pre-

series of

the small

the cau

which rech

1939

Italy.

between ance Besides, American troops Dro now in those areas, side by side with French troops, and here as elsewhere good com- radeship prevails. • şamd

Tomorrow morning Gen.

Juin

will proceed to Field Marshal Alexander's head-

-quarters to deal with • this · rotter in the broadest spirit of conciliation in order that

solution may be found.

Thus the matter ended, if not. pleasantly, at least without another quarrel. The British public, whose attention had been" distracted · from world events by the General Election, weronot troubled by thes affairs.

(Continued Tomorrow)

(World Copyright: rved. He production, ovan partisily, in Kay janguage, strictí

prohibited):