740.0011 European War 1939/11745: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:25 p.m.]
198. I have just called on the High Commissioner who confirmed to me in a voice trembling with emotion that the British attacked this morning and that the French forces were resisting. Town of Deraa on the railway to Damascus was already in flames and several Britishers who were caught interfering with communications behind the French lines had been captured.
He then repeated to me the substance of the information contained in my 197, June 792 and said if the British had not precipitated matters he would himself have taken me to the various aerodromes to show me that practically no German planes were left. He also referred to the unfounded reports mentioned in my 184, June 393 and said it was regrettable that the British should base an invasion of a French possession on such flimsy pretexts.
I replied that I did not for a moment believe that the British Government’s decision was influenced by such rumors but that public opinion in England—incidentally also in the United States—had become [Page 728] alarmed by the ease with which the German Air Force had been able to make use of Syrian landing fields during the past month not only without any objection on the part of the French but evidently with their full approval and cooperation. I again referred to the shipment of large quantities of French military supplies to help the rebels in Iraq and asked him if he thought the Germans would have been willing to withdraw their planes from Syria if their intrigues in Iraq had not ended in failure. General Dentz merely shrugged his shoulders and made no reply. I then said he and I could therefore scarcely blame the British if they wished to prevent a similar situation which would be a grave menace to the entire Middle East and might seriously affect the course of the war.
To my question whether there had actually been fighting at the border the General said his troops had been ordered to resist and so far as he knew he was at war with England! I smiled and said war was an ugly word to use between friends and former allies and was convinced the British had no intention whatever of fighting the French either here or anywhere else. The General remained silent.
I then asked him whether he thought the Germans would attack the British if the latter found it necessary to occupy Syrian territory. The High Commissioner replied categorically, “I personally shall certainly not invite any Germans to come to Syria”. I told him I was glad to hear it and would he authorize me to say to my Government that if German planes or troops again arrived in Syria he would have repulsed them. He hesitated for a moment and then said with pathetic helplessness “That would depend on my instructions from Vichy”.
Please repeat to London.
Repeated to Vichy.