740.0011 European War 1939/11115a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Leahy)
410. The British Government asks that the following statement, which is to be made in the House of Commons tomorrow noon, May 15, be transmitted to Marshal Pétain as soon as possible.
“Information at the disposal of His Majesty’s Government shows that French authorities in Syria are allowing German aircraft to use Syrian airdromes as staging posts for flights to Iraq. His Majesty’s Government have in consequence given full authority for action to be taken against these German aircraft on Syrian airdromes. The French Government cannot escape responsibility for this situation. This action under German orders in permitting tnese flights is a clear breach of armistice terms and is inconsistent with undertakings given by the French Government.”