Evening star., 1941-07-22
Syriun BoIunce Sheet

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Dentz, the Vichy commander in
Syria, formally capitulated to the
British forces, thereby ending the
strange "kid-glove" war in which
the British and their Free French
colleagues tried to hurt the Vichy
French as little as possible. The
last act was in character, because
the armistice terms were signifl-
cantly light. While compelled to
surrender their equipment, the Vichy
troops were allowed to return home
with the honorS of war.
The Syrian campaign, though it
dragged over several weeks and in
volved considerable fighting, evoked
far less bitterness in France than
did the Anglo-French naval clashes
last autumn. This represents a
notable achievement for British
diplomacy and corresponding set
back for German schemes. Germany
undoubtedly hoped that the warfare
in Syria would produce a wave Of
anti-British feeling in France which
would sweep that country into open
war against Britain, and pro-
German partisans in France did
their best to further the plan. But
the plan did not work, and Anglo
French relations today seem to be
less tense than they were before
| the British invasion Of Syria took
place.
Britain's firm grip on strategically
vital Syria has vastly bettered its
position throughout the Near East.
This is stressed by no less a person.
age than the Prime Minister himself.
Reporting recently to the House of
Commons, Mr.. Churchill frankly ad-
mitted the dangers just escaped
when he stated: If any one had pre-
dicted two months ago when Iraq
was in revolt and our people were
hanging on by their eyelids at Hab-
baniya Airport and all Syria
and Iraq began to be overrun by
German tourists 80 If any one had
predicted that we should already by
the middle of July have cleaned up
the whole Levant and have re-
established our authority there for
the time being, such prophet would
have been considered most impru-
! dent"
The British are making the most
OF their occupation and are rapidly
turning Syria into bastion of i'm
perial defense. Furthermore, they
seem to be well received by the
native population. The British
blockade Of Syria by both sea and
land for the past year wrought great
hardshipS in the isolated little coun-
try which caused much popular dis
content. Now that Syria's normal
contacts with its neighbors are re-
stored, economic improvement Is
reconciling all except a few ultra
nationalist agitators and paid Axis
| agents to the joint rule of the
British and Free French. Indeed,
this occupation Of the intellectual
center of Arab nationalism gives
Britain a chance to deal construc-
lively with the larger Arabian prob
lem, coupled as 1t is with the in
crease Of British prestige in all the
Arab lands. The Arabs are i'm
pressed by success and power. The
British are giving them a striking
example Of both.
On Turkey, likewise, the effect
must be favorable to Britain. No
longer is Turkey virtually isolated.
Across the long Turco-Syrian from
tier shipments of commercial prod
ucts and military supplies are easy.
This does not mean that Turkey Is
likely to join Britain actively against
the Axis. 1t does mean, however,
that Turkey will be much better able
to resist Axis pressure and maintain
the neutral policy on which her
rulers seem to be bent.
With Russia still holding up the
German drive and forcing Germany
to concentrate the bulk of her
strength in Eastern Europe, Britain
has precious breathing spell in
which to consolidate her Near East
ern position against future dangers.
Here, as elsewhere, time is vital. And
the British obviously are not vast