740.00119 European War 1939/516: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Beirut (Palmer)
71. A United Press despatch from Cairo dated September 25 reported that 11 demands had been made by the Italian armistice commission regarding Syria. These demands included demobilization of armed forces in Syria, repatriation of demobilized forces, delivery of all military, air and naval bases to Italy, administrative control by an Italian commission, ban against listening to radio broadcasts except from the Axis, Italian control of production and commerce, and the surrender of all army munitions, provisions, and gasoline to Italy.
On September 30 an Associated Press despatch from Cairo stated that “Authoritative reports” had reached there concerning further Italian demands regarding Syria, relating principally to permission for the return to Syria of German, Italian, and certain Arab propagandists. The United Press also carried this report on October 1 from Cairo, attributing the source to the News Agency Orient Arabe, Beirut.
[Page 914]On October 2 the United Press reported from Cairo that the Italian Commission had been unable to persuade French officials to turn over 800 aircraft and airdromes in Lebanon to Axis powers, that the Commissioners have been recalled and that a new commission will be appointed.
Please report by telegraph any basis which may exist for these reports, with your comments.