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Coll 6/93(2) 'SYRIA: Situation in – after capitulation of France, 1940. Incl. Proclamation of Independence.' [217r] (433/626)
The record is made up of 1 file (311 folios). It was created in 3 Jul 1941-12 Dec 1944. It was written in English and French. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
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legitimate rights of the respective parties and re-^
establish their relations on a basis of mutual confidence.
I 60 In order to safeguard the sovereign independence
of Syria, Free France, in co-operation with her ally Great
Britain, will for the duration of the war, take charge of
the country*s defence. She must be able to prepare this
defence in order to make it effective^immediately the^
frontiers are threatened. This entails that the military
command should have at its disposal the equipment [grp.
undec.] public services of Syria, likewise such national troops
as the country may be able to form.
17. It entails, equally, that there should be at all
times the closest collaboration between commandant-en-cnef
and Delegue - general on the one hand and the police gendarmerie
and Sdrete services of the Syrian state on the other hand.^
Syria in effect must be defended in time of war, not only from
enemies outside her frontiers, but also from those within, and
from dangerous fifth column activities.
18. The inclusion of Syria in the war zone and within
economic and financial system of the Allies necessitates the
closest collaboration between the Syrian Goverumen j and the
Allies for [2 grps. undec.] purpose named in common interest
and as long as hostilities continue to ensure the validity and
respect of the measures taken to bring victory in e co no mic war.
19. The above stipulations reconcile respect for the
independence and sovereignty of Syria with [grp 0 undec 0 ]s
of the state of the war. They consecrate and guarantee the
accession of Syria to the rank of independent stages, and^they
establish rules and obligations which are to govern relations
between Free France and Syria during the present period of
transition. They are inspired by a single thought, namely to
win the war and by this means to ensure for the Syrian people
a free and independent future 0
20. The proclamation of June 8 th declared that a treaty
of friendship and alliance v/ould be concluded between Syria ana
Free France to define their relations in the light 01 tneir
obligations to one another and to establish and guarantee
independence of Syria. Meanwhile it added, ^ Syria would
enjoy the position, prerogatives and obligations of an alii
nation.
21. The solution which the present delcaration brings to
[grp. undec.] Franco-Syrian question proceeds from the desire
of France in spite of the war, not to postpone the fulfilment 01
"another 1 s*.f national destinies or carrying out of lie engagement
of the Allieso It is important nevertheless thao a aeiimte
settlement..•.•.
About this item
- Content
Following on from an earlier file (IOR/L/PS/12/2166), this file concerns British policy relating to Syria, following the success of the British-Free French military campaign in Syria [Operation Exporter]. (The abbreviation 'Incl.' in the title stands for 'Including').
The date range of this file is 1941-44; however, most of the material dates from 1941.
Notable correspondents include the following: His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo (Miles Wedderburn Lampson); Minister of State, Cairo (Oliver Lyttelton); His Majesty's Ambassador in Bagdad [Baghdad] (Sir Kinahan Cornwallis); His Majesty's Ambassador in Washington (Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, referred to in the correspondence as Viscount Halifax); the Secretary of State for India (Frederick William Pethick-Lawrence); General Charles de Gaulle; General Georges Catroux; officials of the Foreign Office, the War Office, and the Government of India's External Affairs Department.
The file includes discussion of the following:
- The British Government's relationship with Free France in Syria (particularly with General Charles de Gaulle) and the possibility that the Free French authorities are suspicious of Britain's interest in Syria.
- Concerns expressed by the Government of India (and to a lesser degree, by the War Office) that the Free French authorities intend to take the place of the Vichy administration in Syria and renege on promises of imminent independence.
- Arrangements for the repatriation of Vichy French officers and the return of British prisoners of war.
- The wording of a Free French declaration (a translated draft of which is included) announcing Syria's independence and the formation of a Syrian Government, with Sheikh Taj ed Din el Hassani [Taj al-Din al-Hasani] as President, issued on 27 September 1941.
- Britain's formal recognition of Syrian independence on 28 October 1941.
- Reports of unrest in the Deir es Zor [Deir ez-Zor] region during October 1941.
- The wording of a Free French declaration announcing Lebanon's independence (particularly the wording of paragraph 16, which makes reference to Lebanon as 'an indivisible unit'), issued on 26 November 1941 (a translated draft of the declaration is included).
- Whether the proclamations of Syrian and Lebanese independence constitute the termination of the French Mandate.
- Whether treaty negotiations should be initiated following the declarations of independence, or delayed until the end of the war.
- The appointment of Major General Sir Edward Spears as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador. The term can be shortened to 'envoy'. to the Governments of Syria and Lebanon.
Also included are copies of daily summaries produced by the Middle East Intelligence Centre (MEIC) in Cairo, covering early July 1941.
There is a small amount of French language material, consisting of extracts from drafts of both of the aforementioned declarations, as well as a copy of the full text of the declaration of Lebanese independence.
The file includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 2-3).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (311 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 front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 312; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 6/93(2) 'SYRIA: Situation in – after capitulation of France, 1940. Incl. Proclamation of Independence.' [217r] (433/626), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2168, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100043060293.0x000024> [accessed 24 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2168
- Title
- Coll 6/93(2) 'SYRIA: Situation in – after capitulation of France, 1940. Incl. Proclamation of Independence.'
- Pages
- 162r, 216r:217v
- Author
- de Gaulle, Charles André Joseph Marie
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact copyright@bl.uk with any information you have regarding this item.
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2168
- Title
- Coll 6/93(2) 'SYRIA: Situation in – after capitulation of France, 1940. Incl. Proclamation of Independence.'
- Pages
- 162r, 216r:217v
- Author
- Catroux, Georges Albert Julien
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact copyright@bl.uk with any information you have regarding this item.