Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The British Commonwealth, The Soviet Union, The Near East and Africa, Volume III

740.0011 European War 1939/4128: Telegram

The Consul General at Beirut (Palmer) to the Secretary of State

Beirut, June 23, 1940—2 p.m.
[Received June 23—1:02 p.m.]

38. Officers and men of the French forces here including colonial troops and naval and air force units are determined to carry on.⁴ General Mittelhauser⁵ informed me late yesterday afternoon that he was confident that the entire French Fleet and all other forces outside of France were united in such a determination. He says that with the pooled resources of the French and British Empires they will fight in the closest cooperation with, or even as a part of, the British forces; that they are firm in their resolve to effect a military and moral resurrection of France and to make any necessary sacrifice to this end.

He tells me that after conference here General Wavell⁶ has proposed to the British Government the establishment of a commission in Cairo through which supplies for all British and French forces in Africa and the Near East will be obtained independently of supplies for British or French forces elsewhere. Pending British Government approval which he and General Wavell regard as certain he asks that this information be held in strictest confidence.

He states that French forces here are well equipped and have material sufficient for normal operations up to September or October but must be assured of replenishment before the exhaustion of this material and in the meantime have urgent need of aircraft. He emphasizes their dependency on the United States as a source of supply for all material that can possibly be furnished and he hopes for encouraging assurances in this respect. The air force hopes for rapid expansion here and the organization of an important training center for pilots and is most anxious to have information as to the immediate or early availability of training and fighting planes.

Local rumors repeated abroad to the effect that there have been disturbances in Damascus and other centers are contradicted by American and other reliable residents, and the High Commissioner replies that such rumors are entirely unfounded.

Palmer

4. The French-German armistice was signed on June 22. For text of the armistice treaty, see Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, series D, vol. ix, p. 671.
5. French Commander in Chief in the Eastern Mediterranean area.
6. Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell, Commanding General of British forces in the Middle East.