740.0011 European War 1939/11442: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 29—9:02 p.m.]
171. French hospital ship Canada arrived yesterday and is due to leave in a day or two. Local French sources fear French authorities will attempt to put on board a number of Free France sympathizers who are being rounded up in ever increasing numbers, including officers and non-commissioned officers who have recently declined to cooperate with German air personnel in Syria. They suggest ship be thoroughly searched by the British before it reaches a French port.
We learn that loads of arms and ammunition continue to leave Syria for Iraq while considerable quantities of gasoline are still reaching Aleppo from Mosul.
German planes are flying over Syrian territory at night and at present refuel at Palmyra rather than Damascus and Aleppo.
I hear the French are planning to start regular air service with de Voitine three-engined passenger planes between France and Beirut via Brindisi, Salonika.
Repeated to Vichy.