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Coll 6/93 'Syria – Situation in after the capitulation of France 1940: Allied operations against :–' [453r] (905/1003)
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.
3.
sf^rom^amTipS-il^+v , 3110 ^ 1 h +i p 11111633 ttle French authorities refrain
•thpv 1I1 J .^ e P r ?secution of the war, and that if
• Frenrh nn+hnif+i'f^ pn t ^ ls P9 lri1 tlle y will co-operate fully with
'thincr i^+h ^? 1 ^ 165 ln ec0n0Inic matters and continue to do every-
{« Mf cities are y
thlt cS ompromi f ed lf th , e y were t0 get impression
tn 3ty - 3 Government were asking High Commissioner
not ik this H^ S ^^- 0ns * • SutHis Majesty's Government do
qv , nis relations with Vichy are his own affair
x hey ask for results and their help would continue?
(i) so long as results were forthcoming
and
(ii) in proportion to those results.
desidprfl+n^^LliiL 1 ^ important because I also recognise that
?f 3 „ ®^fta in paragraph 4 are m some ways counsels of perfec-
tion and that the French authorities might not be able even if
S eve?y e respectf’ t0 giVe HiS Fiaiest y' s Government satisfaction
i me ir?i 4 . Fi ? u should also bear in mind that nothing would suit
^ Fmate k 83 “ an t0 have *0 0 reals disorOer 'in
9. Subject, however, to your views and those of Hio-h
Commiss^ner.for Palestine, I sfiall be glad if you will now sound
mutual 1 v m =; fltiq?np+ aS t0 So^piiity of leaching ^ friendly Ind
mutuaiiy satisfactory unaerstanding 0 It is not mv intention that
you should necessarily present points in parapTanli 4 as a seripq
assurance?° U On W tvi^ Hi + Ilaiesty ' s Govemment°expect immediate
! un to moce'sir?i th ?+ c 2 ntra ? y y° u may think it desirable to work
create a frfenHtr U =t^ eill K rids g ra ^ uall y. endeavouring first to
create a inendly atmosphere such as may he possible if economic
discussions (see Jerusalem telegrams Nos. 659 and fifiP! [of r ,,?™ 1
' 13thJ t ? Colonial Office) are successful. IToreover if High 7
Commissioner is unresponsive it is undesirable, if only because
hard 0 at 1 nnt^Pt 0n v” P a: T a g ra P h 8 , that you should press^him too
nard at_outset. Your immediate obiect should therefore be to
^ 33 e ^f} ri ■ 1 'i rliettl6: r 11:16 IJasis for an understanding exists, and I leave
you full discretion as to manner and language oi your approach If
?hPi^ S V ca S ° nce S et him cfmitt^to icepting
their help, they rnay thereafter he able to carry him alone? sten
uritl1 I s no longer in a position to avoid comp 5 ying P
S with the more stringent of their requirements, y y ^
+ ^Q-n^icular difficulty must clearlj^ be expected with
regard tp point (a) m paragraph 4, and I think that if you
mention it at all in early stages it should be as one which you
know to be exercising the mind of His Majesty's Government,
of
and
• * • •
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 :–' [453r] (905/1003), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2166, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048396972.0x00006c> [accessed 6 May 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