§ 60. Mr. RAFFANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present status of the Lebanon; whether that status meets with the approval of the inhabitants; whether the pre-war rights and obligations of Great Britain with regard to the people of the Lebanon continue in force; if not, what is the nature and extent of the change in that respect and the reason for such change; and whether it has resulted in the orderly government of the country or otherwise?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe Lebanon is part of the territory placed under the mandate of France in accordance with Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, and the decision of the Supreme Council at San Remo in April, 1920. I am not clear to what pre-war rights and obligations my hon. Friend refers, but if it be to the arrangement relative to the administration of the Lebanon accepted by Turkey in the Protocol of 1861 between her and certain European Powers, it must be clear that there is no need to maintain this arrangement after the cessation of Turkish rule. So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, the answer to the second and last parts of the question is in the affirmative.