The U.S. government voiced immediate opposition today to a “free Lebanon” following reports that Major Saad Haddad, the commander of the Christian forces in south Lebanon, had declared the region south of the Litani River an independent “free Lebanon.” While the State Department frequently refuses to comment on media reports, it acted quickly on the report about Haddad’s announcement.
Department spokesman Hodding Carter said he had seen reports of the “creation of some independent buffer state.” in Lebanon. “Without knowing the reality whether that state is more than a P.R. (public relations) statement or whether it has come into existence or not, our general policy is that we would oppose anything which threatens the territorial integrity of Lebanon or which would have the effect of subdividing it or impeding the extension of Lebanese authority throughout the land,” Carter said.
This development came as a force described as Lebanese but which is also reported to have Syrian offices disguised as Lebanese began moving to join United Nations units in south Lebanon. Carter repeated today that the areas which are being taken over by the Lebanese force is “consistent with the policy long advocated” by the U.S. “Anything which impedes that, we regret,” Carter said, whether it is shelling or the “free Lebanon” sector. The State Department has not denied that Syrians are with the Lebanese force but has referred to it as a “professional group.”
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