Cablegram 239 LONDON, 3 July 1940, 11.50 a.m.
IMPORTANT SECRET
[On 30 June 1940 the U.K. Govt informed the Commonwealth Govt in
cablegram D299 that it proposed to issue a declaration that it
could not allow Syria or Lebanon to be occupied or used as a haven
by any hostile power and that it held itself free to take any
measures necessary in its own interest. On 1 July the Commonwealth
Govt dispatched cablegram 338 which read in part: ‘Have you
considered possibility of French troops becoming actively hostile
to us with consequent military repercussions of a serious kind to
our numerically inferior forces in that zone? Is it impossible to
get joint declaration with Turkey to defend Syria?’ Both
cablegrams are on file AA: A981, War 45, iv.]
Before receipt of your telegram No. 338 of 1st July His Majesty’s
Ambassador at Angora [1] had indicated that the Turkish Government
concurred in the draft of the declaration by the United Kingdom
Government and the declaration was thereupon issued at once.
Careful consideration had been given to the possible attitude of
the French troops in Syria. It is not expected in the present
circumstances they will become actively hostile to us. As regards
the suggestion in the last sentence of your telegram, although
Turkish co-operation in the defence of Syria and Lebanon might in
certain circumstances be welcome to us, the Arabs will inevitably
always be suspicious of the entry of Turkish forces into those
territories whatever the purpose. Turkey too would probably
require a reward for lending assistance. It was felt to be most
important therefore that nothing should be said now or later which
would give the slightest handle to propaganda that we had sought
to secure Turkish support for ourselves at the Arabs’ expense. In
the circumstances it was thought to be better not to make an
approach to Turkey of the kind suggested in your telegram.
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1 Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen.
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[AA: A3195, 1940, 1.5013]
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