890E.00/244: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 20—8 p.m.]
8136. For Secretary and Under Secretary. The Committee at Algiers and Catroux have been informed that unless the French reinstate the duly elected Lebanese Government by Monday, November 22, 10 a.m., the British will declare martial law in the Lebanon. Opinion has somewhat changed in the Foreign Office regarding the restoration of the arrested Ministers to authority. It is now felt that the Lebanese Government should resume its functions as soon as practicable and it is believed that the Lebanese Ministers will realize that they should in future act less abruptly. The British suggestions regarding a modus operandi have been conveyed to the Committee at Algiers and to Catroux and the Foreign Office feels that eventually the Committee will become aware that they must find a way to mollify the Lebanese people.
The proclamation of martial law, if necessary, would be a step taken with extreme reluctance. The Foreign Office says emphatically that the British are not playing politics in the Middle East and that their sole aim is to preserve order. The situation in the Lebanon, according to the Foreign Office, has somewhat deteriorated; there have been riots in Cairo and there is fear of trouble in Palestine. The Foreign Office said that if a major political crisis should arise in the area it would mean the immobilization of Allied troops to enforce order; this is certainly not desired.