890E.00/221: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 18—6:10 p.m.]
8050. The Foreign Office is disturbed that no clarification of the Lebanese situation has yet appeared. The British Government does not have in mind an immediate return to thestatus quo ante but it does insist on immediate release of the arrested members of the Lebanese Government. This does not mean their resumption at once of authority. The British Government does not feel that a complete return to the former situation would have a calming effect; in fact, the Foreign Office is of the opinion that the hotheads in the Government would incite the Lebanese deputies to further aggravations against the French. What the British Government apparently contemplates is a modus vivendi to carry the Lebanon through the war period. This would mean concession by the French of a number of the powers which they have retained and which are entirely unnecessary in the conduct of the war. Nevertheless, certain powers would be retained by the French for obvious reasons. These are security, communications, control of the frontiers, and certain economic powers. Although final approval has not been given by the British Cabinet, if such approval is conceded it is the intention of the British to convey this suggestion to Catroux. It is understood that Casey may fly to Beirut, and, if some settlement has not been reached by Sunday, the [Page 1037] British will declare martial law in the Lebanon, but it is their wish to avoid this if possible. (The Foreign Office stated that the Department had already been informed of this possibility.)
In conclusion, the Foreign Office stated they are just as anxious to avoid misunderstandings and further difficulties with the French over this affair as they are to keep the Arab states from boiling over in indignation because of the French behavior in the Lebanon.
Repeated to Algiers, Beirut and Cairo.