TROOPS IN SYRIA AND LEBANON

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23350, 9 June 1941, Page 7

TROOPS IN SYRIA AND LEBANON

Move By Allied Forces PROCLAMATION BY FREE FRENCH (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received June 8, 11 p.m.) LONDON, June 8. Free French forces, supported by Imperial forces, entered Syria and Lebanon early this morning. Commanded by General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, they crossed the frontier of Syria at 2 o’clock after aeroplanes had dropped leaflets urging the French army and the Syrian authorities to collaborate in driving out the Germans. The operation is proceeding according to plan and is primarily intended to prevent the Germans using Syria as a base for operations. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says it is hoped that the British advance will not develop into a military operation, but that depends on the attitude of the French. 5 An official spokesman in Vichy, after saying that the British had launched an attack on Syria, added: “The declaration of General Dentz, the Vichy High Commissioner in Syria, stands—We shall defend ourselves to the bitter end.” The British Government has issued a statement in which it says; “In spite of the British Government’s warning the Vichy Government in pursuance of its policy of collaboration with the Axis Powers has placed air bases in Syria and Lebanon at the disposal of Germany and Italy and supplied war material to the rebel forces of Iraq. German infiltration into Syria has begun and the Vichy Government is continuing to take measures whose effect must be to bring Syria and Lebanon under full German control.” “His Majesty’s Government could not be expected to tolerate such actions which go far beyond anything laid down in the terms of the French Armistice and are in flagrant conflict with the recent declaration of Marshal Petain that honour forbade France to undertake anything against her former allies. Free French troops have, therefore, with the support of Imperial forces, entered Syria and Lebanon at an early hour this morning. “A declaration has simultaneously been issued by General Catroux, High Commissioner and head of the Free French forces in the Middle East, on behalf of General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French, guaranteeing the liberty and independence of Syria and Lebanon and undertaking to negotiate a treaty to ensure these objects. His Majesty’s Government supports and associates itself with this promise of independence.”

General Catroux, on behalf of General de Gaulle, confirming the entry into Syria, said: “The British blockade will be lifted if Syria and Lebanon join the Allies. They will also benefit from the Sterling bloc, facilitating exports and imports. “I declare that I assume the powers, responsibilities, and duties of the representative of France. I do this in the name of Free France, who identifies hferself with the traditional and real France, and in the name of her chief. General de Gaulle. In this capacity I come to put an end to the mandatory regime and proclaim you free and independent. You will, henceforward, be sovereign and independent peoples able either to form yourselves into separate States or unite in a single State. “In either event, your independent and sovereign status will be guaranteed by a treaty in which our mutual relations will be defined. This treaty will be negotiated as soon as possible between your representatives and myself. “You will sea from this declaration that if the Free French and British force cross the frontier, it is not to take away your liberty. It is to insure it and prevent the Levant from becoming an enemy base directed against the British and ourselves. “We cannot allow the populations which France promised to defend to be thrown into the hands of the most wanton and pitiless master history has known. We cannot allow the age-long interests of France in the Levant to be handed over to the* enemy. “It in answer to our appeal you rally to us, you should know that the British Government, in agreement with Free France, has promised to grant you all the advantages enjoyed by the free countries associated with them.” The Lyons radio this morning repeated the assertion that there were no German troops in Syria and that the only German aeroplanes there were three or four damaged beyond repair. Marshal Petain and Admiral Darlan (the Vichy Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister) have met to consider the situation.

TSarlier the Independent French News Agency’s Jerusalem correspondent reported that General Dentz, the Vichy High Commissioner in Syria, asked Vichy to dispatch urgently reliable troops to relieve units now in Syria. He" asked for German troops to be sent, if necessary. General Dentz is particularly suspicious of his air corps and his anti-aircraft gunners. He asked that at least 40 aeroplanes should be sent to Syria with proved pro-German pilots and also that antiaircraft guns should be shipped from Tunis. Meanwhile he has entrusted his anti-aircraft defences to Germans.

Ankara reports state eight U-boats are in the vicinity of Beirut and that 200 German aeroplanes have landed at Aleppo and Palmyra. The Syrian authorities have given the Luftwaffe a held at Latakia and the Germans are building a new aerodrome.

.Military circles point out that Latakia is the nearest jumping-off place for Cyprus. It is reliably reported in Ankara that the Germans bombed harbours in Cyprus on Friday night. They are also reported to be mining the waters round the island. French aeroplanes arriving at Rayak are believed to be from Morocco with Moroccan crews. German instructors and German aeroplanes are flying over Turkey to Syria. It is reported that two bombers made a forced landing in Turkey and the occupants, seven German and three Italian airmen, were interned. German arrivals in Syria have passed the “tourist" stage and assumed a military character, states the correspondent of the “Daily Express” on the Syrian frontier. . ,?, he , correspondent reported that Allied forces were in position and ready to resist any possible southern thrust by the Germans or by Syria. British and imperial troops were everywhere visible. Hurricanes and Tomahawks were constantly overhead, patrolling the borderlands. German arrivals included members of the tank corps who had been constantly pouring into Syria It is reported that French aeroplanes dropped leaflets over Jerusalem and Haifa addressed to Frenchmen who had gone over to General de Gaulle. The leaflets repeated the Vichy denial that there were German air formations and soldiers in Syria, On Friday, an official military spokesman in Vichy said; "Fighting is expected to break out in Syria at any time, because it appears that Britain has decided to move in. France will fight alone. The French defences in Syria are ready.” The Vichy Propaganda Ministry has issued a statement about the situation in Syria, claiming that the position was confused through the insistence of British propaganda that German troops were arriving in the French territory. This insistence by the British, it was claimed, was evidently to be used as an excuse for British action. General Weygand was said to have assured the Vichy Government about the defences of Syria, and said that the defences of all French colonies had been strengthened against British aggression. The statement was issued following a meeting of the Vichy Cabinet, at which General Weygand, Vichy’s Delegate-General in North Africa, was present, together with M. de Boisson, Governor-General df French West Africa, General Nogues, Resident-Gen-eral in Morocco, and Vice-Admiral Esteva, Resident-General in Tunisia. A commentator on the Ankara radio described the statement by General Dentz, French High Commissioner of Syria, that there were no German .troops in Syria, as a blind to deceive public opinion. The German-controlled Brussels radio has put out a story that General Weygand will visit Syria to organise against British “aggression."