§ 33. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has represented to the French Government that the proposal to retain French troops in the Lebanon until March, 1947, is not in accordance with the resolution of the Security Council, accepted by the French Foreign Minister, that these troops would be evacuated as soon as practicable; and whether he will assure the House that the promise given to the Lebanese, that British troops will remain in the Lebanon until all French troops have been with drawn, will be maintained.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ernest Bevin)The answer to the first part of the Question is in the 1855 negative. Both His Majesty's Government and the French Government are bound by their acceptance of the United States resolution, which represented the majority view at the recent meeting of the Security Council, to withdraw their troops from Syria and the Lebanon as soon as practicable. It is not for us to determine the time required for this operation by the French authorities. We have, nevertheless, offered them our help in the way of transport. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would point out that our undertaking to the Security Council to withdraw British troops as soon as practicable supersedes all previous arrangements in this matter.
§ Mr. StokesCan my right hon. Friend say why the French are not withdrawing at the same time? Is the difficulty one of transport facilities?
§ Mr. BevinThere are certain long standing difficulties in regard to heavy equipment. We have not been there quite so long.