890E.01/5–845: Telegram
The Minister to Syria and Lebanon (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:10 p.m.]
124. Grigg97 was obviously much perturbed by information reported in my 123, May 8, 6 p.m.98 To disturb the Prime Minister on this of all days99 was the last thing he would have wished to do.
His position, he said, was that General Paget was responsible for overall security in the Middle East; this move of the French might well disturb it seriously; he himself was not able to authorize Paget to act (e.g. order French troops to barracks) in the event of actual trouble breaking out in the Levant.
In answer to my questioning he said that the naval C-in-C Mediterranean could hardly order the vessel, if on the high seas, not to proceed; to do so would seem almost an act of war.
I suggested that if the vessel actually brought reinforcements (rather than replacements as in case of Montcalm) he consider authorizing Paget, in line with powers he had just mentioned, to order that such troops be not disembarked. He said he would consider it and asked if I believed my Government would support him in such action. I replied that I would report our conversation to you urgently.
Repeated to Paris as 27, sent Department as 124, paraphrases to Arab capitals.