ACTION IS URGED

Southland Times, Issue 24446, 28 May 1941, Page 5

ACTION IS URGED

OCCUPATION OF

SYRIA

“TIME IS RIPE FOR BRITISH MOVE

(Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 27. The Daily Telegraph says the time is ripe for a British move to forestall the German occupation of Syria. This is the declaration of everyone from Syria and everyone who meets the people there. The Germans are exercising a growing influence in the French administration and more and more munitions and other supplies are going to Iraq, but the German preoccupation with Crete provides an ideal opportunity for the British occupation of Syria. The growing food, shortage in Syria was making the situation much worse and the arrival of a force from outside with supplies for the populace would have a great influence.

A prominent Anglophile Arab said the Arab world was expecting an imminent British move on Syria. The -majority of well-informed Moslems were pro-British, but Axis propaganda and gold had done much damage and Axis cells in Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Palestine and Syria were collaborating to influence those peoples. “The Arabs have no confidence in the Axis, but they need a demonstration of British strength and a visible indication that we are able to take the initiative, he said.

MEN JOIN FREE FRENCH The Daily Mail says that daily Circassian cavalrymen, Druse tribesmen and men from the Caucasus cross the frontier to join the Free French. All ask- “Why have not the British come into Syria months ago? We have been waiting for you ever since the collapse of France.” The Times says there is no longer any doubt that a grave rift has appeared in the Iraqi rebel front. The army has no stomach for the struggle and important elements throughout Iraq repudiate the treacherous attack against Britain. The Kurdish minority in north Iraq and the Shahs, who are in a great majority between Bagdad and Basra, have shown no signs of sympathy with the rebellion. The Arab countries have solidly refused to give Rashid Ali moral and material support. This demonstration of Arab friendship, should not, however, absolve Britain from closely watching German activities in the Near East and Middle East. We have been too inclined to take Arab friendship for granted. Germany, having no responsibilities or commitments, can offer anything and everything. No PanArab dream has been too wild to receive encouragement from German agents and, above all, the policy of a Jewish National Home, exaggerated and misrepresented, has been a Godsend to the Nazi propagandists. Much more can be done to counteract the distrust and anxiety caused by the constant Nazi whisperings.

BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS Troops, materials and planes continue to pour into Palestine, including Glen Martin bombers and Tomahawk fighters. The Beirut radio says_ 20 Blenheims bombed and machinegunned Palmyra, damaging the runways, but there was no damage to material and no casualties.

The official report concerning the situation in Iraq issued by British General Headquarters in Cairo simply states: “All is quiet at Fallujah and Basra in Iraq.” General Nuri Said, a former Prime Minister of Iraq, who has been spending his exile with the Emir Abdullah of Transjordan, is reported to be going to Iraq under the escort of a cavalry detachment of Transjordan frontier troops. Rashid Ali’s Government is reliably reported to have fallen into panic because it discovered that British agents had made contact with some of Rashid Ali’s most trusted political and military chiefs. This with his failure to get German or Saudi Arabian support is believed to have wrecked the morale of Rashid Ali’s government. The Arab News Agency in Cairo confirms the report that Rashid Ali has asked Turkey for a transit visa.