§ 7. Sir E. Spearsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has now considered the statement made by the French Minister of Information that France hoped for the eventual independence of Syria and the Lebanon; and what steps he intends taking to implement this country's guarantee of the full independence of these countries.
§ Mr. LawI have made inquiries regarding the statement attributed to the French Minister of Information, but it has not so far been traced. If my hon. and gallant Friend will give details of the time and context of the statement, I will look into the matter further. As regards the second part of the Question, my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that the independence of the Lavant States was proclaimed by the French Government and endorsed by His Majesty's Government in 1941, and that it has since been recognised by the Governments of the United States and the U.S.S.R. and many other countries.
§ 9. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will have incorporated in any White Paper setting out the promises made to Syria and the Lebanon the declarations made by General Catroux in June and November, 1941, addressed to the Governments and peoples of these two countries.
§ 11. Commander Sir Archibald Southbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the announcement of the French Foreign Minister that France would defend her prerogatives in Syria and the Lebanon and had at her disposal a military force for this purpose; and whether, in view of our guarantee, he will ensure that any negotiations that may take place between the French and the Syrian and Lebanese Governments do not take place under the threat of force.
§ Mr. LawI have seen, reports of the statement referred to, but my information is that it was not precisely in the terms 198 which my hon. and gallant Friend has quoted. As regards the second part of the Question, the discussions should certainly be free and unhampered by threats of force from either side, and it is the intention of His Majesty's Government if necessary to use their influence to this end.
§ Sir A. SouthbyWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the danger of misapprehensions going about at the present time in a matter of this kind, and will he take steps to convey to the French Government the view of the British Government that, having guaranteed the independence of the people of Syria and the Lebanon, we should view with considerable apprehension any threat of force being applied to them?
§ Mr. LawCertainly, Sir, we did endorse the declaration of the French Government. That is certainly true, and we are very much interested in the independence of these States. Nevertheless, I am sure the House would agree that this is a matter primarily for discussion and negotiation between the States themselves, and I doubt very much whether these negotiations are likely to be helped by our debating the matter too much in this House at the present time.
§ Sir A. SouthbyWhen my right hon. Friend says that we endorsed the proclamation of the freedom of these States, was that not taken, by the Syrians and Lebanese, to be a statement that, in honour, we were bound to see that, having got their independence, they will keep it?
§ Mr. LawNo, Sir, I do not think endorsement of the French declaration is the same thing as a guarantee.
§ Sir A. SouthbyThen what is it?
§ Mr. LawWhen we endorsed the declaration of the French Government, we said we recognised the independence of these States, and we have had a Minister there for some time and have had diplomatic representation with these States for some time past.
§ 12. Mr. Raikesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received a copy, or a telegraphic summary of the notes addressed by the Syrian and Lebanese Foreign Ministers to the French Delegate-General on the 199 subject of the Syrian and Lebanese armed forces and the diplomatic relations between the States and France.