Britain Bars Syria, Lebanon to Hostile Powers

Warning that the British Government will not permit any hostile power to occupy French-mandated Syria and Lebanon was officially issued today.

The statement of the British position said that in view of the decision of General Eugene Mittelhauser, French commander in Syria, to cease hostilities, the Government would hold itself free to take whatever measures were necessary to prevent hostile occupation of Syria and Lebanon for use as a base for attacks on the countries of the Middle East which Britain was pledged to defend.

Any action taken will not be done to prejudice the future status of the presently French-mandated territories, it was said.