740.00119 European War 1939/760:
Telegram
The Acting Secretary of
State to the Consul General at Beirut
(Engert)
Washington, July 9, 1941—3 p.m.
132. Your 281, July 8, 10 a.m. The British Embassy in Washington
informs the Department that the message from General Dentz
quoted in your telegram under reference has been communicated to
the British Government and that the British Government desires
the following terms be communicated to General Dentz as soon as
possible:
- “1. The Allies have no aims in Syria except to
prevent it being used as a base for enemy ground and
air forces against their military position in Middle
East. They also have obligation to the Arab
population by the guarantee of independence given on
their entry into Syria. Great Britain has supported
General Catroux’s declaration. The representation of
French in the Levant will be assured by Free French
authorities within framework of promise of
independence which they have given to Syria and
Lebanon and with which Great Britain has associated
herself.
- 2. The Allies have no feeling of any kind against
French in Syria and are prepared to grant a complete
amnesty as regards the recent fighting. They have no
charge to make against any of the commanders,
authorities or troops in Syria. General de (Gaulle
who has never arraigned any of his army comrades who
have fought against him acting under orders they
received has no intention of doing so in present
circumstances.
- 3. They must however take steps to prevent
material of war in Syria being used against them.
These materials must therefore be handed over to
them.
- 4. As regards the French troops in Syria they must
be given full opportunity of joining the Allied
forces in their fight against Axis powers. At the
same time the Allies reserve their right to take
measures to ensure that choice of each man will be
genuinely free. Every opportunity must be given of
fully explaining to each individual the conditions
and choice offered him. Any members of fighting
forces who are not prepared to join the Allied cause
will be repatriated with their families if and when
circumstances permit.
- 5. Honourable conditions will be offered to all
who wish to join the Allied forces. Those who are
accepted for service will be offered continual
employment in their existing ranks with full rights
of promotion and guarantee of pension. The others
will be honourably treated pending
repatriation.
- 6. All French officers prepared to assist the
Allied cause will as far as possible be given
employment suitable to their position and rank and
their salaries will be guaranteed. Other ranks will
be treated in the same way as army officers. Those
who are not prepared to assist Allied cause will be
repatriated with their families.
- 7. The railways, ports, communications, wireless,
oil installations, etc. will not be damaged or
destroyed but will be handed over for
[Page 766]
Allied use.
The Allied forces will have the right of military
occupation of Syria for period of the war.
- 8. Any Germans or Italians in Syria will be handed
over for internment.
- 9. All war ships to be handed over intact for
internment and subsequently to be reduced to care
and maintenance basis at Beirut with the power to be
moved elsewhere by the order of the C-in-C
Mediterranean if safety conditions demand it. Return
of ships after the war or compensation guaranteed to
friendly France.
- 10. The blockade will be lifted and Syria and
Lebanon will be put into immediate relations with
the sterling block.
- 11. All British prisoners taken in the course of
operations in Syria and Lebanon shall be
released.”
The British Government desires that you make it clear to General
Dentz, in communicating these terms to him, that with reference
to reports that certain British officers have been sent to
France by air for internment there, it will be necessary for the
British authorities to intern, pending the release of the
British prisoners concerned, a suitable number of Vichy
supporters from Syria, if any British prisoners of war are not
returned but remain interned in France.
The British Government also desires that you explain that if
General Dentz accepts the terms contained in the attached
memorandum as a basis for negotiations and replies to this
effect, the British military authorities will be prepared to
cease hostilities and meet General Dentz’s representatives
without further delay.
