740.00119 European War 1939/758: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:44 p.m.]
278. Your telegram No. 127, July 5, 7 p.m.,23 only reached me this morning. Considering that the message is now a week old and the military situation changes from day to day I should like to have confirmation from the British Government that it still desires it to be delivered in this form. Please point out that in view of Vichy’s 776, June 30, I believe it desirable to give the French authorities no fresh excuse for a statement that the British are taking the initiative in all [Page 761] these peace overtures. If General Lavarack’s message is to be handed to General Dentz I venture to suggest that it be linked up in some way with the original French inquiry as transmitted in my 223 June 18, 11 a, m., and with the British Government’s reply contained in the Department’s 104, June 19, 7 p.m. I assume of course that Generals Wilson and Lavarack are also aware of the contents of my 237, June 22,24 and 245, June 25. Please state that I shall gladly put myself at their disposal for the transmission of any message they wish but in this instance I feared lest the French in their present mood gain the impression that this is an entirely new suggestion influenced perhaps by military operations with which because of its date it could naturally have had no connection.