Coll 6/17 'Syria: Political situation in Syria' [‎13r] (25/180)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Syria).
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 3199/5/89
Mav 1, 1939.
3464
!959
Section 1.
Copy No
118
Consul Davis to Viscount Halifax.— {Received May 1.)
Mv lord Aleppo, March 31, 1939.
^ ' WITH reference to my telegram No. 14 of the 28th March, 1939 on the
subject of the situation in Aleppo, I have the honour to report that on ^u hda
the 23rd March, the Nationalist bloc at Aleppo decided that all shops and ofhees in
the town should be closed until further notice as a general protest agamst
policy pursued by the French Government in Syria and a special protest again, t
the arrest of certain prominent Nationalists in Damascus. NaHnnalkm
2 Owing to the relative loss of prestige and popularity by the Nationalists
durino- their two years of office, this decision was by no means generally observed,
especially by Christian merchants and shopkeepers. The Nationalists therefoie
called up their stalwarts from the Moslem quarters, armed with sticks and
daggers and ordered them to force the recalcitrants to close down, using threats
or actual violence if necessary. This they proceeded to do under the benevolent
eyes of the Syrian police, who in some cases even joined m the good work ot
intimidating the obdurate. Until Sunday, the 26th March there was not much
actual disturbance, but on that night a bomb exploded about 9-30 P - M - l h®
Azizieh quarter of Aleppo, and the following day bands of Moslem youths and
children circulated in the streets throwing stones at tramcars. breaking the
windows of any shops found open, and obliterating with black paint the French
signs on banks, shops and offices. The French delegate and general warimd
the Muhafiz of Aleppo that he must keep order or they would intervene. He
obiected that he was not accustomed to being spoken to m that tone to which
the French replied that he would have to get used to it from now on. 1 hereupon
the Muhafiz left for Damascus, handing over his duties to the Syrian chiet ot
nolice Nuzhat Bey El Mamlouk. On Tuesday at midday another bomb exploded
near the Banque 'de Syrie et du Grand Liban, whereupon the patience of the
French was exhausted‘and the delegate called upon the military authorities to
restore order in the town. This was done quietly and without incident, but
despite the insistence of the French authorities only a few shopkeepers ventured
to open up their premises. They point out that as in 1936 the French promiset
protection to those that opened and then turned round and made a treaty with the
Nationalists, leaving them to the mercy of the bloc's supporters, so m 1939 they
have no assurance that the French policy will remain stable.
3 Qn Tuesday, the 28th March, a further bomb exploded at 9-30 p.m. in
the Jemilieh quarter of Aleppo, and on Wednesday, the 29th March, another one
went off near the French general’s house. Although no particular damage was
done a curfew has been imposed in that quarter of the town from 7 p.m. to
6 a.m., and the duties of the Syrian chief of police, who has been granted one
month’s leave of absence, but remains here for the time being as Acting Muhahz
have now been taken over by Colonel Bringuier, the French officer m command ot
the Mission for the Reorganisation of the Syrian Gendarmerie.
4 Very few shops and offices in the town have yet reopened, and it is a
question whether some shortage of supplies such as bread, meat and vegetables
mav not make itself felt shortly if the French cannot succeed m inducing them
to change their attitude. In the meantime all kinds of rumours are circulating,
including a circumstantial one to the effect that the French have already nego
tiated an agreement at Angora to hand over Aleppo together with the sanjak anc
the Jezireh°to the Turks in return for Turkish friendship.
5 . A copv of this despatch is being sent direct to His Ma jesty’s Ambassador
at Paris and to His Majestv’s consular officers at Beirut and Damascus.
I have; &c.
A W nAVTS
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