Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section, France and the Levant — Chronological Summary
“ Landing of French troops. 1861–4 Lebanon receives autonomy. 1869 Opening of the Suez Canal. 1882 France declines to aid Great Britain in the suppression of Arabi's rebellion. 1905 The French Republic breaks with the Church. 1918 Conquest of Palestine and Syria by Allenby. ”
