740.0011 European War 1939/13488: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 28—1:02 p.m.]
309. General de Gaulle arrived in Beirut at noon today accompanied by General Catroux. General Wilson also spent the day in Beirut.
De Gaulle received this afternoon the same officials mentioned in paragraph 1 of my 302, July 16, 7 p.m. He expressed to me his appreciation of the sympathy and support the Free French cause was receiving from the United States.
Yesterday the Vichy garrison at Soueida, capital of the Jebel Druze, was supplanted by a British cavalry brigade. This was the last French force to disappear from the Syrian scene under the terms of the armistice because it was feared that the Druzes might overpower the French if they became defenseless before the British were ready to take over. I understand that the Jebel Druze will be under British not Free French administration.