Replying to the question of who decided that the air forces on the aerodromes of Crete were to be withdrawn, the Prime Minister said that it was decided by the Commander-in-Chief of the R.A.F, in the Middle East, on the recommendation of Gen, Freyberg, Commander-in-Chief of Allied forces on Crete, concurred in by the Commander of the Fleet Air Arm on the spot, Mr, Churchill added that the numbers were small and if they had not been withdrawn they would have been blown off the aerodrome shout having been able in the slightest degree to affect the course of events, Coming to the Syrian operations, Mr, Churchill repeated: "We have no territorial designs Syria or anywhere else in French territory. "We seek no colonies or advantages of any kind for ourselves in this war, Let none of our French friends be deceived by blatant German and Vichy propaganda, On the contrary. we shall do all in our power to restore the freedom, independence and rights of France.
Letter to de Gaulle "In a letter I wrote to Gen, de Gaulle, leader of the Free French, I said that we shall do all in our power to restore France's freedom and her rights, but it will be for
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.