740.0011 European War 1939/11757: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 8—10:40 a.m.]
656. Rochat94 has just handed us the following note signed by Admiral Darlan,95 emphasizing verbally that the French for their part intend to do everything possible to “keep the conflict localized”; that they do not wish the fighting to extend to other areas: [Page 729]
“The French Government has just learned through a telegram received from the General High Commissioner of France at Beirut that Syrian territory was attacked this morning on the Nerdjayoun front south of the Djebeldruze and that enemy reconnaissance units, foot and motorized troops, have made contact with our outposts. Fighting is taking place.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once more draws to the attention of the American Embassy the fact that there is no collaboration in Syria between German and French forces and that all the German aeronautical matériel and personnel which might have been there on the occasion of the events of Iraq96 have been withdrawn (with the exception of 2 or 3 damaged machines and possibly 10 men).
The Ministry feels that it must especially emphasize to the American Embassy that any British attack—which nothing in the present situation in Syria can justify—carries with it the risk of bringing about the most serious consequences. As it has already been pointed out to the Embassy, the French Government is resolved to defend its territory and its possessions wherever they may be attacked with every means at its disposal. All measures have been taken to this end in Syria.
Conscious of the dangers which the situation entails, the French Government, for its part, and until further notice, will avoid everything which might tend to aggravate or to extend the conflict. If the latter should be extended, the French Government would be obliged to assure by the necessary measures the defense of the territories under the sovereignty of France”.
Repeated to Beirut, Algiers and London.