Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

740.0011 European War 1939/10761: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State

Vichy, May 9, 1941—noon.
[Received May 9—9:15 a.m.]

526. We were told in confidence by a Government official yesterday that instructions have been sent to the High Commissioner in Syria that in the event German planes fly over Syria toward Iraq they should not be fired upon; that if any of them should land in Syria they should not be permitted to depart pending instructions to be requested from Vichy. If on the other hand British planes should fly over Syria the High Commissioner’s instructions are to endeavor to shoot them down.

Repeated to Beirut.

Leahy