Peace in Syria
The manner of the ending of the war in Syria will do some- thing to modify the bitterness arising from a conflict between British and French soldiers. In the armistice-convention signed by the military commanders firmness in demanding all that is needed to secure the control of Syria is tempered with generosity. The Allies will occupy the whole territory, and will take over all public services, means of communication, ships in harbour and port-installations, aircraft, fuel-stocks, and stocks of war-material; but full honours of war will be granted to the French forces, who will retire_ to selected areas and will be permitted to retain their individual arms (such as rifles and swords) but not ammunition. Prisoners will be set free on both sides. Frenchmen in military or civilian service will be given the alternative of rallying to the Allied cause or being repatriated, and those who choose the latter will be allowed to return to France in French ships. The handing over of the administration will be done gradually and in such a way as to be as little wounding as possible to French susceptibilities, and French cultural institutions will be allowed to remain. It may be doubted if ever an armistice has been concluded in which the defeated side were treated so little as enemies and with so much friendly consideration. We were compelled to fight French troops in Syria, but we never felt ourselves at war with France. We are compelled, with the Free French, to enter into a military occupation of the country and link it up with the area in the Middle East which we control, but in doing so, as the Prime Minister said, we seek no British advantage, and the historic interest of France in Syria will be preserved so far as that is compatible with the independence of the people.
