890D.00/876: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 4—10:22 a.m.]
64. Nationalists in Damascus have recently greatly intensified their activities. One of their leaders Jamil Mardam called on me the [Page 645] other day and accused Syrian Government of being unconstitutional, corrupt and inefficient. I advised him to tell this to the British and French and he said he had already done so and that Damascus newspapers too had called attention to the shortcomings of the Government. I said I had observed that the press had rather freely criticised the Government for its alleged failure to solve food problem and to prevent exorbitant rise in prices but I had not seen any very constructive suggestions. He replied that question of cost and distribution of food supplies was fundamental and that unless Allied Powers especially Britain assumed complete control there might be serious trouble. See also second paragraph of my 53, February 19, and my 63, March 2.99
I pointed out that the British authorities had imported some 60,000 tons of wheat since last July which would have been ample but for the cupidity and perhaps even dishonesty of dealers who instead of selling to the hungry public were hoarding most of it in the hope of still higher prices.
German propaganda has taken fullest advantage of the situation by stating that Allied promises of food and prosperity were worthless, that most of the wheat has gone to the Jews in Palestine and that a corrupt clique was being kept in office by Allied bayonets to enable British and French officials line their pockets and to prevent the real patriots, i. e. Nationalists, from working for Arab solidarity.
Leader of Nationalist bloc, Shukri Kuwatly (see my telegram 365, September 15 [16], 19411), has been away for several months ostensibly on pilgrimage but chiefly to confer with Ibn Saud2 who is said to have advised him to cooperate with the British. This report coupled with Jamil Mardam’s recent visit to Cairo has given rise to the impression—which both Kuwatly and Mardam have always tried to convey to me—that the Nationalists are really not pro-Nazi and are now ready to support the Allies or at least the British. At the same time the Nationalists are spreading reports that they are already enjoying the confidence of the British Government.
Catroux does not trust Nationalists and has requested British to prevent Kuwatly’s return from Baghdad where he now is and large demonstrations were being prepared for his reception. British have prevailed upon Kuwatly to postpone his return few weeks but believe it would be great mistake to keep him out altogether. I thoroughly concur that he should be allowed to return. He and his followers may be given benefit of doubt while they behave themselves provided they be closely watched. However, they should not be allowed to hold office so long as an Axis threat of invasion exists for [Page 646] in that case they would be in a position to assist enemy if they were so inclined. I have since last July been urging upon British and French that the security problem is the paramount one and today more than ever. I cannot be too emphatic that Syria must be defended not only to protect Suez and Persian Gulf but because it is one of the few important potential bases for an Allied offensive against Axis later on.