740.00119 European War 1939/774: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:10 p.m.]
289. Text of the terms quoted in the Department’s 132, July 9, 3 p.m., was handed by me to the High Commissioner in person at 11 o’clock this morning together with a transmitting note in which I mentioned the substance of the two concluding paragraphs of your telegram.
General Dentz read them over and said he was prepared to accept them as a basis for negotiations and to cease hostilities immediately. He will confirm in writing tomorrow after consulting with Vichy but requests the British military authorities be at once advised and be asked to indicate the place where his representatives could meet theirs.
With regard to the British prisoners sent to France he said they would of course be released and returned.
Repeated to Vichy, London and Cairo.