890E.00/242: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 21—2:52 p.m.]
8145. Your 7373, November 20, midnight. As indicated in Embassy’s 8136, November 20, 9 p.m., Foreign Office opinion had changed [Page 1040] and the restoration of the arrested Ministers to authority was contemplated. We have confirmed that instructions were sent to Macmillan to the effect that he should demand the release of the arrested Lebanese personalities and their restoration to their official status.
Foreign Office has just told Embassy that some progress has been made. The French have agreed to dismiss Helleu [apparent omission] and to release [apparent omission] however they are not prepared to reinstate the Ministers but maybe they would be willing to restore the President to authority. The Foreign Office says that negotiations are going on “hammer and tongs.” Due to delays in communication, particularly between Catroux and Algiers, the time for the declaration of martial law has been postponed until 10 a.m., Wednesday, November 24.
Repeated to Cairo, Beirut and Algiers.