Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1941. WAR AND POLICY IN SYRIA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1941. WAR AND POLICY IN SYRIA.

AN observation on the Syrian campaign by the London “Daily Nail” that: “Since Vichy is offering a stout resistance, it is lime that we converted the advance from a political into a military operation,’' embodies an opinion that appears to have been adopted and acted upon by the Allied military authorities on the spot. Little has been heard during the last day or two of the advance up the Euphrates Valley, and still further north, in the near neighbourhood of tin* Turkish frontier, but on the front extending inland from the coast in the region of Sidon to Damascus, there is a rising blaze of battle.

Any delay that has occurred in the Allied occupation of Syria must be regretted and there may be something in the view that it woidd have been wiser to concentrate on the occupation of Syria, than to undertake the defence of (’rote in the conditions in which it was attempted. A. great deal is taken for granted, however, in the assertion of the “Daily Alail” that: “The occupation of Syria months ago and the retention of Libya would have enabled Turkey to resist the blandishments of the Axis.” That it would have been desirable to occupy Syria and hold Libya goes without saying, but the contention that these things might have been done “months ago” assumes, probably without warrant, that Britain then had at her disposal the forces and equipment adequate to the tasks involved. It appears to assume, also, that Syria might have been occupied without driving as much of the French nation as is dominated by the Vichy Government still more dangerously into “collaboration” with the Nazis,

As to this last, point, considerable doubt must be felt. Much as delay in gaining full military control over Syria is to be deplored, it does not follow that the time and effort spent in endeavouring to induce the French supporters of: Vichy in Syria, and the native inhabitants of the country, to exchange a bad cause for a good one have been wholly wasted. Syria itself is immensely important, strategically and in other respects, but the drama of war and policy that is being enacted within its borders -also involves issues that extend much further afield.

The paramount consideration of course is that the Axis must not be allowed to occupy and control Syria if any effort of which the Allies are capable can avail to prevent that misfortune. Endeavours, however, to win over the French troops and the inhabitants of the country have been in themselves well worth while and have been crowned with a measure atjeast of success. They have done something to avert bloodshed and lighten the immediate military task of the Allies. Even now, with heavy fighting in progress, the possibility appears that the Vichy traitors—the men who, in spite of Marshal Petain’s feeble disclaimer, obviously are selling out their country to the Nazis —may be discredited so effectively in Syria as to weaken and undermine their position even in metropolitan France. At the same time, developments in Syria may modify and improve to some extent the critical and dangerous position that exists in the French North and West African colonies.

Just how vital are the issues directly hinging on the operations now in progress in Syria hardly needs to he pointed out. Firmly established in Syria, the Allies would be in a position to support Turkey and to raise a strong barrier against further Axis aggression in the Middle East. Possession of Syria appears to be essential to an effective defence of Cyprus. On the other hand, Syria held by the Axis would be a gateway opening on many desirable objectives. Not only Iraq and Iran, but Palestine and the Nile Delta itself would then be exposed dangerously to attack. Turkey would be encircled hopelessly and the British naval command of the Eastern Mediterranean would be at least seriously menaced. Whether or not there has been any undue delay in undertaking the occupation of Syria, it is evidently now of supreme moment to the Allies that the occupation should be completed and made fully effective with all possible speed.