740.0011 European War 1939/11699: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10 p.m.]
179. In private conversation yesterday evening, my French colleague Henry76 expressed belief that Germany is withdrawing from all military activity in Syria; that support given to Iraqi dissidents was mere gesture of sympathy which had disillusioning results in that incidental use of Syria as base of German operations, even on small scale involved, had led to such outcry in France proper and in [Page 720] Empire and elsewhere that game did not seem worth candle. He based this belief on information from “one of highest German quarters”. He did not specify his source more precisely; but “Witman (here as courier from Beirut) had just told me of having called earlier on Madame Henry who had talked with him to much the same effect and somewhat unguardedly disclosed that her husband had been discussing question with Von Papen77 whom he had persuaded to telegraph to German Government this advice that Syria be left alone.
- 2.
- Henry went on to express his own hope (no doubt in expectation that through you and perhaps through my British colleague his views would reach attention of London) that British would in these circumstances refrain from attacking Syria and thus inevitably lead to resistance by Vichy and quite probably its putting naval bases and forces at disposal of Germany. He said he felt sure British were sufficiently aware of these probable consequences to avoid action against Syria.
- 3.
- Upon my asking why Germans should be sedulous to avoid on
their own part anything which would tend to provoke British
to take action involving them in such disadvantageous
consequences as he foresaw, he outlined views which I sum up
as follows:
- a.
- Main German assault upon British position in Eastern Mediterranean and Near East is to be by way of North Africa; advance thus far made in Aegean may well be merely contributory to that and not intended as basis for separate land attack through Levant.
- b.
- Germany fears invasion of Syria would lead Turks to intervene jointly with British; she reckons on it (as Von Papen told him some time ago) that unless antagonized they will come to see that alliance with Britain gives them no advantages and will ultimately come over to German side; she therefore wishes, if possible, to await peaceful conquest rather than have to subdue Turkish resistance.
- c.
- Above all, Germany cannot be sure of various French reactions to attempted German occupation of Syria: Even though it were in response to British attack it might quite conceivably have effect of arraying whole French Empire on British side despite Vichy; much would depend upon lead given in that event by Weygand who is head-strong and unpredictable.
- 4.
- He thought it probable also that in existing conditions of sea and air power Germany is not prepared to attempt invasion of Palestine. He nevertheless admitted difficulty of accepting conclusion to which his own theories led him, viz., that German southward advance could be expected to stop at Crete.
Repeated to Beirut, which I understand now has this cipher.