Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

740.0011 European War 1939/14323: Telegram

The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

Cairo, August 23, 1941—8 p.m.
[Received August 24—11:40 p.m.]

1218. Beirut’s No. 336, August 20, 6 p.m., to the Department. An official of the British Embassy, who has been intimately connected with the elaboration of British policy in respect of Syria and who recently accompanied Lyttelton to Syria, states that the allegation of the senior officer mentioned in the telegram under reference has absolutely no basis in fact insofar as British policy in Syria is concerned, and furthermore that he knows of no circumstance which could have been so misconstrued as to give such an impression. He added he would look into the matter with a view to ascertaining if possible the source of this false report and to taking appropriate steps to check its propagation.

Repeated to Beirut.

[Kirk]