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Coll 6/93 'Syria – Situation in after the capitulation of France 1940: Allied operations against :–' [367r] (733/1003)
The record is made up of 1 file (500 folios). It was created in 23 Jun 1940-28 Jul 1941. 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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Cypher telegram to Mr. 3tonehewer-Bird f (Jedda)
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Forelfjrn Office, 21st July, 1940. 7^16 a.nu
No. 101.
frlt+x. Your telegram No. 1^52 (of July 4th Syria)
Paragraph 3.
His Majesty’s OoverrL:ient have no desire to see
Iraqi Government steal a march on Ibn Saud over question
of Syria. But I am not sure that General Nurl really
wished to do so. Moreover, His Majesty’s Government cannot
support particular interests in this matter of any of the
Arab States. It is as yet too early for them to adopt and
sponsor any particular solution for the future of Syria
(anc the Lebanon). They csn and roust, however, adopt the
line that whatever the solution is to be, it is of interest
to other Arab States all of whom have some claim to be
consulted. This point would become of special importance
should any question arise of adoption of a monarchical form
of government in Syria.
2. Following for your c nfidential guidance. If
therefore support of His Majesty’s Government were desired
with French authorities or people of Syria for any
candidate for throne of Syria, they would probably reply
that they could not give it without knowing attitude of Ibn
Saud, Emir Abdullah and Regent of Iraq towards that
candidate. As this line would no doubt make it very
difficult to find a candidate at all, it mi^ht also have to
be made clear at some stage that it did not mean that
any of these three rulers was, in the view of His Majesty’s
Governriient, necessarily entitled to hold up indefinitely a
solution/
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About this item
- Content
This file documents British policy and Allied operations regarding Syria and Lebanon, following the defeat of France in June 1940. It documents preparations for a British-Free French military campaign in Syria [Operation Exporter] and concludes with correspondence regarding armistice terms, following the Allied forces' victory.
The file's principal correspondents are the following: the British Consul, Damascus (Alfred John Gardner); the British Consul-General, Beirut (Godfrey Thomas Havard); the High Commissioner, Palestine (Harold MacMichael); His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo (Miles Wedderburn Lampson); His Majesty's Ambassador in Bagdad [Baghdad] (Basil Newton, succeeded by Sir Kinahan Cornwallis); His Majesty's Ambassador in Angora [Ankara, Turkey] (Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen); His Majesty's Ambassador in Washington (Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, referred to in the correspondence as Viscount Halifax); His Majesty's Minister, Jedda (Hugh Stonehewer Bird); Commander-in-Chief, Middle East (Archibald Wavell); officials of the Foreign Office.
The file includes discussion of the following:
- British concerns that Italy will seek to gain a foothold in Syria following France's defeat.
- British policy in the event of the French authorities in Syria and Lebanon being unable to defend their interests.
- The prospects of independence for Syria.
- The possibility of British intervention in Syria.
- The cessation of exports from Syria to Palestine.
- The arrival in Syria of an Italian armistice commission.
- The detention of three British ships and their crew in Beirut in August 1940, under orders from the Vichy Government.
- Proposals for a Free French coup d'état in Syria.
- Rumours in early 1941 that the Vichy French authorities in Syria are considering some kind of regime change, either by instituting some form of nationalist government, or by installing a monarch, such as Amir Faisal [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd], son of Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd].
- British policy towards the nationalist movement in Syria.
- The precise wording and timing of a proposed Free French declaration (to be supported by a British declaration), proclaiming the independence of Syria and Lebanon, to be delivered by General Georges Catroux on behalf of General Charles de Gaulle.
- Preparations for a Free French-British military intervention in Syria.
- The Allied forces' military campaign in Syria, which commenced on 8 June 1941.
- The armistice terms to be offered by the Allies to the Vichy authorities following the cessation of hostilities in Syria, with the United States Consul General at Beirut acting as an intermediary.
The French language material consists of a final draft of the aforementioned Free French declaration (folio 160).
The file includes three dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (folios 2-4).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (500 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 501; 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 'Syria – Situation in after the capitulation of France 1940: Allied operations against :–' [367r] (733/1003), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2166, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048396971.0x000088> [accessed 25 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2166
- Title
- Coll 6/93 'Syria – Situation in after the capitulation of France 1940: Allied operations against :–'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:28v, 31r:31v, 33r:33v, 35r:69v, 71r:81v, 83r:101v, 103r:159v, 161r:165v, 167r:188v, 190r:199v, 201r:204v, 206r:206v, 208r:229v, 231r:247v, 249r:250v, 252r:259v, 261r:284v, 286r:501v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence