SYRIAN UNREST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23769, 24 September 1940, Page 7

SYRIAN UNREST

CLIMAX APPROACHING HATRED OF ITALIANS OPEN HOSTILITY SHOWN (Received September 23, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22 The Cairo correspondent of -the Daily Mail reports that the situation in Syria appears to be nearing a climax. Tempers in Syria and Lebanon are boiling up as the Italian Disarmament Commission flits about the country, carrying on strange backstairs negotiations with the French.

The Italians are shunning publicity because of the open hostility of all sects. Members of the commission have employed a bodyguard of huge Senegalese since one member was assaulted. The Syrians are convinced that the Italians want first to seize air bases and then take over the administration of the country.

The Syrians and Lebanese are turning to Irak as a possible saviour. It is reported that Irak has already formally protested to Vichy and requested the restoration of constitutional government.

There is a growing inflationary trend in the note issue. The Syrian Stat© Bank has a capital of 2,000,000 Syrian pounds, but the note issue already has reached 7,000,000 pounds. Prices are rising rapidly. The Cairo correspondent of the Daily Express says that General Weygand's broken army is becoming smaller daily, as Syrian troops are refusing to take part in the surrender. They disappear into the desert, taking their equipment with them.

Italy is trying to obtain "in Syria a strong movement to revive the ancient plan for linking the Irak and Syrian Arabs.

Irak called up a new army class last week, and great diplomatic activity has been observed in Bagdad. It is reported from Beirut that the French liner Theophile Gautier has arrived to repatriate 2500 French troops. More vessels are expected shortly.

"AFRICA BOILING" ADMISSION FROM VICHY SUPPORT" FOR DE GAULLE (Received September 23, 7.10 p.m.) VICHY, Sept. 22 The official spokesman for the French Government admitted that as a result of General de Gaulle's activities incidents were occurring practically throughout French Africa. Africa was boiling. Unrest is intense in Syria, Dahomey (between Nigeria and the Gold Coast) and French mandated Togoland. It is expected that the two las£-named territories will join General de Gaulle.

MEN FOR DE GAULLE (Received September 23, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23 A message from Pondicherry, French India, says M. Quiribet, President of the Committee of Free Frenchmen, has formed a sub-committee to recruit volunteers for General de Gaulle. - CYPRUS ATTACKED FIRST RAID EXPERIENCED (Received September 23, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 23 A message from Nicosia states that the island of Cyprus was raided for the first time on Sunday morning, when enemy aeroplanes bombed and machinegunned Morphon. There were no casualties and no material damage.