740.0011 European War 1939/11445: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:13 p.m.]
179. Reliable source in Aleppo reports that at least 200 German airplanes have crossed Syria since May 9 and that most of them flew over Turkish territory of Hatay. In Aleppo nobody seems to have the slightest faith in Turkish professions of pro-British sentiments and most people believe today what relatively few felt 2 or 3 months ago, viz., that Turkey would prove a broken reed to lean upon. See my telegrams 42, February 19th and 70, March 11th. It is firmly believed that unless the British take over Syria immediately and deal the Iraqi rebels a crushing blow Turkey will yield to Nazi pressure just as Bulgaria did.
Since my 163, May 23, nearly 150 carloads of wheat, rice and sugar in addition to gasoline have already arrived from Iraq at Aleppo which is of enormous propaganda value to the German Goverment in supporting Syrian Nationalist and Iraqi rebel political and economic cooperation.
Repeated to Vichy and Ankara.