740.0011 European War 1939/6807: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Palmer) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 22—7:40 a.m.]
131. In a radio message on November 19, the High Commissioner referred to appeals from neighboring countries addressed to the French and explained that in order to avoid a misunderstanding that [Page 926] might prove tragic and weigh heavily on the future he felt called upon to declare that the French in the Levant, whatever their beliefs, recognize Pétain as their only leader; that today as formerly they will not have recourse to arms except to defend themselves; that French civil and military leaders of all ranks in this mandated territory are ready to perform their duties in defending it; that these leaders know that they can count on the loyalty of the Syrians and Lebanese toward France which has been and will remain their faithful friend.
This suggests an appeal to the many Syrians and Lebanese who are outspokenly “through with the French” and to the considerable number of Frenchmen in Syria and Lebanon, largely in military and other official circles, who are earnestly pro-British in their desire for the defeat of Germany but are now mostly inactive and silent, even among themselves, since they have been persuaded that any manifestation of pro-British sentiments at present would serve no useful purpose and might result in their being denounced by non-sympathetic confidants, as reported in some instances.
It also reflects the High Commissioner’s apprehension, following a recent series of local official incidents affecting the British Consulate General, as to possible developments in Anglo-French relations in the Eastern Mediterranean.