Bush, Mitterrand Discuss Lebanon, Poland Troubles

President Bush, concerned about developments in Lebanon, discussed the crisis with French President Francois Mitterrand by telephone Saturday, the White House announced.

The spiritual leader of Lebanese pro-Iranian militants has warned that a French naval force off Lebanon will be attacked if it intervenes in the fighting, and the lives of some American hostages have been threatened.

“President Bush discussed his general concern about the general situation in Lebanon,” the White House said in a statement issued in Maine, where Bush is spending a three-week vacation.

“The two presidents commented on the U.N. cease-fire in Lebanon and agreed to keep the U.N. spotlight on the problem,” the White House said.

Sheik Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah has accused France, which has assembled a fleet of five ships in the eastern Mediterranean, of taking sides in the Lebanese conflict.

France, however, insists that the ships, including the 24,000-ton carrier Foch, are there to provide aid and remain nearby in the event that an estimated 7,000 French nationals have to be evacuated.

Bush has said he is satisfied that the presence of the French ships is a justified precaution, even though it has prompted threats against the lives of some American hostages.

According to Muslim political sources, Algeria has dispatched a three-man diplomatic team to Beirut on the Lebanese crisis.

Bush had spoken with Algerian officials about Lebanon and the nine Americans being held hostage there.

The Algerian team arrived in Beirut on Thursday and held talks with Muslim leaders, including acting Premier Salim Hoss, who heads a Syrian-backed Cabinet, the sources said.

Algeria played a key role in defusing the recent crisis involving American hostages and has had a leading role in the Arab drive for peace in Lebanon.

Although the White House statement did not mention hostages specifically, it did mention that Bush “reiterated U.S. support for efforts by the Arab League” to resolve Lebanon’s troubles.

The statement also said Bush and Mitterrand discussed developments in Poland, where the first non-Communist government in more than 40 years has taken power.

Bush was quoted as telling the French leader: “We want to help Poland in a coordinated way. They need an effective reform program that takes on the economic realities they face.”