مجموعة ٦/٨١ "سوريا: الوضع في إسكندرونة وأنطاكية." [و‎‎١‎١‎٧] (٥٧٦/٢٣٤)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Syria).
^CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 88/3/89]
Consul MacKereth to Mr, Eden.—(Received January 5, 1937.)
(No. 93.)
Sir, Damascus, December 31, 1936.
THE question, which the Turkish Government has raised, concerning the
future of the Sanjak of Alexandretta was referred to in the Syrian Parliament
during the recent discussions that preceded the ratification of the Franco-Syrian
Treaty of Alliance. On the whole, comment was made in very moderate terms
and amounted to little more than expressions of astonishment that Turkey should
to-day profess such altruistic concern for a small Turkish-speaking group which
had, in fact, very little, if any, claim to be of Turkish race. Some speakers
referred to what they stated was the case that the region of Mardine was inhabited
by people of pure Arab stock speaking Arabic. They observed no suggestion by
Turkey that this region should be lopped off Turkey to be placed under the aegis
of the League of Nations or to be incorporated into Syria.
2. The President of the Council, Jamil Mardam. told me the other day
in conversation that the Syrian Government would never consent to the removal
of the sanjak from Syrian sovereignty; to do so would be to bring disaster to the
district of Aleppo, which had already lost much of its prosperity owing to its
being cut off from its natural hinterland and market by the near-by Syrio-
Turkish frontier. He said he had no faith whatsoever in the Turkish protes
tations that she was not seeking territorial expansion. Knowing the Turks and
their patient method of diplomatic manoeuvre, Jamil Mardam sketched the steps
by which Turkey, wearing a halo of self-righteousness and political rectitude,
would eventually seek to occupy militarily (subsequently to the departure of the
French garrisons in the Alawite territory five years after ratification of the
Franco-Syrian Treaty) the Alexandretta Sanjak and then cast covetous eyes
upon Mosul. I will not weary you with Jamil Mardam’s exposition, for it
presupposed a Turkish machiavellism that it might seem absurd to attribute to
a modern Turkey that has shed its Ottoman skin.
3. There have been several popular, but peaceable, hostile demonstrations
before the Turkish consulate in Damascus; they were rapidly dispersed by the
police.
4. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majesty’s consul-general in
Beirut and consul in Aleppo.
I have. &c.
GILBERT MacKERETH.
January 5, 1937.
Section 1.
Copy No.
[906 e—1]