740.0011 European War 1939/5772: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Palmer) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 29—1:20 p.m.]
97. Reference my telegram No. 93, September 20. Developments of the past week have effectively broken up previously widespread and growing support here for de Gaulle23 and have indefinitely set back the local movement to join forces with the British that gave some promise of action earlier in the month but lacked leadership.
These developments include not only those at Dakar24 but also the unannounced arrival at Beirut of Colonel Bourget formerly General Weygand’s chief of staff here; the arrest of several local de Gaulle supporters, both military and civilian, who in an ill-timed spirit of confidence that the moment for action was imminent expressed themselves too freely; a military ceremony at which decorations were conferred on numerous officers, including some frankly pro-British, [Page 912] and at the conclusion of which the High Commissioner in a private gathering appealed to these and other officers to maintain a spirit of unity in support of Marshal Pétain and of loyalty of France, to the exclusion of all other countries; and a radio broadcast in which the High Commissioner made a similar appeal to all French citizens here and urged the Syrians and Lebanese to unite with the French in the full confidence that French military forces will remain here and maintain order and security and that France will not forget Syrian and Lebanese aspirations.
Effect of Dakar incident has been to intensify anti-British feeling in certain French circles, principally naval, still resentful of British action at Oran; to revive anti-British feeling on the part of those who had made up their minds to forget Oran; to discredit de Gaulle among his former supporters; with a consequent lessening of the chances of any early movement here in favor of the British. But hope for the defeat of Germany by the British and that French forces here may eventually have an opportunity to contribute to such defeat is a predominant underlying sentiment, particularly among French Army officers.
Arrival of Bourget generally regarded as a personal messenger from Weygand25 to his former officers in this [apparent omission], appears to have resulted in crystallizing this underlying sentiment but with emphasis on unity and discipline as essential to the maintenance of order and security here and to preparedness for eventual aggression on the part of Germany or Italy. Bourget’s presence here where Weygand’s prestige is still great undoubtedly paved the way for the favorable reception of the High Commissioner’s appeal for unity on the part of the army officers; the reaction to his subsequent broadcast was largely one of indifference in French circles in general and of doubt in native circles as to whether France would ever again be in a position to bring about a realization of Syrian and Lebanese aspirations even if the High Commissioner’s assurances in this regard should be recalled.
- Gen. Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French.↩
- Dakar, French West Africa, was unsuccessfully attacked by British and Free French forces, September 23–25, 1940.↩
- General Weygand was appointed Delegate General of the Vichy Government in North Africa on September 6, 1940, but had not yet assumed his duties.↩