890D.01/6–145: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 1—12:45 p.m.]
5529. Eden announced in Commons this morning98 that information had been received that Commander French forces in Syria had informed Commander British Ninth Army last night that he had received instructions from Paris not to oppose order of Commander-in-Chief Middle East.99 Eden said he was sure this information would be warmly welcomed in all parts of the House and confidence was felt that all concerned would not [now] cooperate in restoration of law and order which was first step in solution this complex problem. He said British Government sincerely hopes it will be possible to open conversations in London to which he referred yesterday and as a result of which it is hoped to promote a final settlement of this vexed problem.
- For text, see Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 5th series, vol. 411, col. 491.↩
- In telegram 173, June 1, 1945, noon, the Minister to Syria and Lebanon reported: “Early yesterday evening, on orders General Paget, General Pilleau in interview with General Humblot arranged for issuance of cease-fire order and consignation to barracks of all French forces in Syria. Only condition made by Humblot was that French would return fire if attacked in barracks … No satisfactory reports have been received from provinces as communications still cut. French-controlled Radio Levant broadcast last evening that, order having been reestablished throughout greater part of Syrian territory during day of May 31, the French Commander, upon intervention of Brit Middle East Commander for cease-fire, had deferred to Brit desire under instructions to that effect previously received from French Govt.” (890D.01/6–145)↩