Coll 6/17 'Syria: Political situation in Syria' [‎8v] (16/180)

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time, Mahomet-al-Yassin, chief of the Iraqi desert police, is reported to have
been questioning very closely all visitors from Syria who enter Iraq about the
number of French troops in Syria and about their dispositions. Coupled with
information of this nature are accounts of military training being imparted
to Shammar tribesmen by Germans or German agents in Iraq.
Altogether, I am inclined to think that the three months that have elapsed
since the despatch of my telegrams No. 18 of the 24th March and No. 20 on
the 5th April have brought no material change in the situation. In my telegram
No. 18 I suggested that Iraqi activity in connexion with Syria seemed likely
to cause us some embarrassment, whilst in my telegram No. 20 I saw no likeli
hood of serious disturbances breaking out in Syria, provided the Iraqis under
the influence of Syrian extremists did not meddle.
6 . I see no reason to disagree with the French opinion that Syria is unripe
for immediate independence. From past experience of French skill in handling
tiresome and suspicious populations, I should feel little doubt in their ability
to deal efficaciously with any political situation within Syria were the inter
national situation less obscure. On the other hand, in the event of war the
French administrators would be in a stronger position. It may be remembered
in this connexion that, hated though the Turks were by the Syrians, and pressed
though they were by the British forces, which employed every possible device
to stir up revolt in Syria, the Turks had no difficulty in maintaining complete
tranquillity in the country throughout the Great War.
7. I am sending copies of this despatch and enclosure to His Majesty's
representatives in Aleppo, Bagdad, Beirut, Jerusalem and Paris.
I have, &c.
GILBERT MacKERETH.
Enclosure.
Communique.
(Published July 2, 1939.)
Pour le Maintien de VOrdre 'public.
M. GABRIEL PUAUX, Haut-Commissaire de France, s’est rendu a Damas,
ou il a requ son Excellence Nassouh Bey Boukhari, President du Conseil demis-
sionnaire. II lui a fait connaitre qu’en presence de la carence gouvernementale
et du refus du Parlement syrien de prendre en consideration les conditions
auxquelles le Gouvernement franqais subordonne la conclusion d’un accord
d^finitif, il se trouvait dans I’obligation de prendre certaines mesures n^cessaires
au maintien de I’ordre public.
Le Gouvernement franqais estime, en effet, indispensable de donner satis
faction aux voeux des populations rattach&s a la Syrie par un traite qui a
ete mis en application avant sa ratification et qui leur impose un regime dont
les inconvenients et meme les dangers ont et 6 mis en lumiere par une experience
de deux annees. En consequence, le Haut-Commissaire a pris des arretes
apportant diverses modifications aux statuts du territoire alaouite et du Djebel-
Druze pour renforcer leur autonomie, sans toutefois porter atteinte a kunite
politique, economique et legislative de Syrie. Un regime judiciaire special est
egalement prevu pour ces territoires. Des pouvoirs ont ete conferes aux
representants du Haut-Commissaire afin d’assurer pendant une p£riode probatoire
le fonctionnement regulier des nouveaux statuts.
Dans le territoire de la Djezireh, ou de recents incidents ont revele une
effervescence qu’il importe de calmer sans delai, le representant de la France
recevra une mission speciale afin d’etre a meme de jouer le role d’un arbitre
equitable entre les diverses confessions et les groupements ethniques.
Le Haut-Commissaire a, d’autre part, attird 1’attention de son Excellence
Nassouh Bey Boukhari sur la necessite de ne pas differer plus longtemps 1’appli-
cation a 1’ensemble de la Syrie du regime de decentralisation pr£vu par le statut