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Coll 6/90 'Syria: Anglo-French relations in the Near East. French policy in Syria.' [‎11r] (21/169)

The record is made up of 1 file (83 folios). It was created in 23 Mar 1939-29 May 1947. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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© 1
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government, and should be returned
to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
From IRAQ.
Telegram (en clair) from Sir B. Newton (Bagdad)
September 23rd 1939.
September 23rd 1939,
September 28th 1939.
D. By Bag
R.
No,119. Saving.
Ny telegram No 0 328.
French Minister informs me that arrangements have now
been made for these troops to proceed via the Red Sea when they
are required, IIe had himself warned General feygand of the
risk of passage of even unarmed labour battalions being used
for propaganda against General Nuri. General Neygand had
agreed and explained that the informal enquiries made here had
been merely a precaution taken by his staff.
I will communicate the substance of the foregoing to the
Prime Minister because he had previously asked me on
September 21st whether I could give him any information and
indicated that there was some doubt in the minds of certain of
his colleagues regarding the propriety of allowing French troops
to travel through Iraq. I at once made clear the opinion of
His Majesty's Government (see paragraph 4 of your telegram
No.336) that the point would be covered by Article 4 of the
^ ( Treaty. If we requested at any time such facilities and
ourselves. I also explained on that occasion to General Nuri
that from such information as had then reached me I understood
the project to be in a very early and tentative stage v/hich was
no doubt the reason why no formal approach had been made to
the Iraqi Government. Meanwhile the Minister of Defence had
assistance they would then be facilities and assistance to
been

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Content

This file concerns Anglo-French relations in the near East, particularly relating to French policy in Syria.

Much of the correspondence relates to British efforts to obtain information from the French Government regarding the latter's future policy in Syria. The correspondence includes discussion of the following:

  • British concerns in 1939 regarding public support in Iraq for the Syrian Nationalist cause.
  • Differences between the French Mandate in Syria and the British Mandate in Palestine.
  • British misgivings regarding the French Government's decision not to proceed with the ratification of the treaty between France and Syria (the Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence), which was concluded in 1936 and amended in 1938.
  • The reception given to King Faisal II of Iraq upon his visit to Damascus in July 1939.
  • Reactions in the Iraqi press to the suspension of the Syrian Constitution in July 1939.
  • The suspension of the Lebanese Constitution and the dissolution of its Parliament in September 1939, reported as a 'wartime measure'.
  • An increase in the number of French forces in Syria in September 1939.
  • The French Government's concerns in 1946 regarding the activities of the Arab League in North Africa.

The file features the following principal correspondents: His Majesty's Ambassador in Paris (Eric Phipps, succeeded by Ronald Ian Campbell); His Majesty's Ambassador in Bagdad [Baghdad] (Basil Newton); the British Consul, Beirut (Godfrey Thomas Havard); officials of the Foreign Office.

The date range of the file is 1939-47; however, with the exception of three items dating from 1946-47, all of the correspondence dates from 1939.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 2).

Extent and format
1 file (83 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 84; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 6/90 'Syria: Anglo-French relations in the Near East. French policy in Syria.' [‎11r] (21/169), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2162, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100043035211.0x000018> [accessed 16 April 2024]

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