"ملف 4/3 (1.a/51) بروبوجاندا" [و‎‎٢‎٣] (١٩٤/٤٧)

there but not in the sane proportion, rhat tho future is
going to be one cannot say. V.'hat they want is an independent
status. They want independence with a close alliance with
Great Britain. What they are asking for and what the vast
Majority would like is soncthing encroaching a nandato with the
status of Transjordan; thoy would accept a considerable
amount of British advice and control, rhether wo shall ci vo ^
to then or whether wo shall take it on I have not tho slightest
idea. I do not know that it would bo a paying pronosition.
It would cost us noney 9 but it ni^ht be worth while for tho
well-boing conorally of tho Middle East.
What happens to Cyronaica and Tripolitania is coing to
have a considorablo effect on tho future of the Arab world,
because if one of these becones independent states it is r 'oing
to bo very d:lff:.cult for the French in Tunisia, Morocco and
Alciors. It opens up a very big vista to which certain poodle
in *is country have their eyes fully open. They deserve well
fron us. Tho Cyrenaicans. as I say. In tho beginning of
June 1940 were the first to rally to us and have boon very
loyal over since.
Tho nain problen is not so nuch whether, but to what
extent we are prepared to take connitnonts thore and how much
wo want. V*o nay want an aerial base thoro. IVhen those were
in onony hands it npoved a gro^t nuisance to us,
I think that nore or less covers tho Arab countries, and
now there is the question of Russia.
I do not think thore is any need to oonsider it a bogey.
I do not believe fron the evidence that I have been able to see
so far, that Russia has any very definite nlans. There are no
signs of any dofinito plans, but there are r;any signs that she
is taking every opportunity of increasing her influence and
prepared to use any instrunent that cones to hand. Tho
Important thing perhaps fron our point of vioW| and certainly
fron the point of view of tho Post Officer and propaganda, is
tho attitude of tho people of tho country. Tho Greek Orthodox
Catholics in Damascus rang thoir bells for an hour after the
news of the fall of Stalingrad and tho Grook Orthodox Patri. rch,
an Arab who was educated for eleven years f>t Merv in Russia,
when ho.heard of tho projected visit of a dolegatlon fron the
Russian Church, was delighted. Tho Arnenion Church has just
sent a representative down to enquire into various natters
concerning tho Armenian Church in Syria and Falostlne and
reports say that ho is quite openly sugcocting to Armenians
that their future lies in Soviet Armenia,
If the French try to recover their former position - if
for oxamplo, they refuse to hand over control nf arned forces
to the local govemnents , I think it is not at all beyond
the bounds of possibility that those two states will say,
"There are hundreds of efficient, able, well-trained Russian
generals •• we will turn to then for help." I do not think they