890D.00/696: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Palmer) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 3—11:40 a.m.]
My telegram of June 2, 5 p.m. Oriental Institute director, McEwen, has just telephoned that communication with Antioch is about to be cut off and High Commission informs me state of siege was declared June 3, noon, with patrols of Moroccan troops. McEwen reports that High Commission delegate Garreats has resigned and left for Beirut after many efforts to persuade Arab leaders to have their followers abstain from registering. He also reports that Secretary of League Commission has left by plane for Geneva and that members of Commission consider it futile to attempt to continue with registrations. Turkish leader Abdul Rahman Malek resident in Antioch has been appointed Governor of the Sanjak.
McEwen believes that public security will be maintained in Antioch but fears serious disturbances in the outlying villages. He is bringing Mr. and Mrs. Braidwood from the Oriental Institute dig to Antioch and later may send Mrs. Braidwood and Mrs. McEwen and their children to Beirut but is reluctant to do so now because of possibly disturbing moral effect on native population. In response to his and the Princeton director’s urgent request will send Farrell to Antioch tomorrow in absence of contrary instructions.