740.00115 European War 1939/507: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Palmer) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12—10:20 a.m.]
75. Reference my telegram No. 72, August 8. Leading local British residents, including Canadians, have escaped to Palestine mostly by night, some disguised.
French authorities here are apparently not displeased at this evasion of an order that they privately regard as inspired by Berlin and that constitutes another obstacle to British approval of the clearing agreement with Palestine which had already been made contingent upon release of British seamen still interned here contrary to advice of High Commissioner Puaux.