740.0011 European War 1939/10505: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 2—10:12 a.m.]
124. My 112, April 21. In conversation with the High Commissioner this morning I referred to the many wild rumors which were now current and which had obviously been put about by Axis propaganda for the purpose of creating the usual atmosphere of crisis as a preliminary to some major Nazi move. I said I was responsible for a large American colony and much valuable property and I felt I knew him well enough to ask him a straightforward question.
I mentioned the report that Germany was about to land troops by air and/or small naval craft via Greek Islands and Rhodes. Should that happen what would he do about it? General Dentz looked extremely uncomfortable and replied lamely he did not think it would happen because the Germans have already succeeded in putting Turkey in a strategically hopeless position and did not have to come to Syria to get what they wanted. I said that even if Turkey’s position were hopeless—which I did not believe—the Axis would doubtless find a foothold at Turkey’s back extremely useful for the purpose of coercing her definitely into the Axis orbit not to mention Syria’s convenient location as a springboard for Nazi ambitions in the direction of the Mosul oil fields and the Suez Canal.
The High Commissioner admitted this and added smilingly that German and Italian spheres of influence were doubtless already being staked out. I then reverted to my first question and he said textually: “I do not believe the Germans would come here without first conferring with Vichy. My present instructions are to defend the territorial integrity of Syria and I shall do so whether it be against Turkey, Germany, Italy or——”. I am sure he was about to say England but stopped abruptly.
The General went on to say it was much more likely that the Axis Powers would intensify their political activities in this part of the [Page 700] world, rather than attempt unwise incursions. I warned him that the Nazis had always very cunningly blurred the border line between political pressure and military intervention and he might find some morning that they had captured Syria from within. Dentz laughed and asked if I was preparing to evacuate my colony. I said I was not but that I trusted him to give me plenty of warning knowing he thought I should and in the meantime I hoped he would not close his eyes to the fact that the Axis Powers loved unresisting victims and could always be tempted by the prospect of an easy kill.
Repeated to Vichy and Ankara.