BOILING UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 227, 24 September 1940, Page 7

BOILING UP.

SYRIAN TENSION. Open Hostility Towards Italians. United Frees Association. —Copyright. LONDON, Sept. 23. The Cairo correspondent of the "Daily Mail" reports that the situation in Syria appears to be nearing a climax. Tempers in Syria and Lebanon are boiling up as the Italian Disarmament Commission flits about the country, carrying on strange backstairs negotiations with the French. The Italians are shunning publicity because of the open hostility of all sect*. Members of the commission have employed a bodyguard of huge Senegalese since one member was assaulted. The Syrians are convinced that the Italians want first to seize air bases and then take over the administration of the country. The Syrians and Lebanese are turning to Iraq as a possible saviour. It is reported that Iraq has already formally protested to Vichy and requested the restoration of constitutional government. There ie a growing inflationary trend in the note issue. The Syrian State Bank has a capital of 2,000,000 Syrian pounds, but the note iesue already has reached 7,000,000 pounds. Price? are rising rapidly. The Cairo corresponeent of the "Daily Express" says that General Weygand's broken army is becoming smaller daily, as Syrian troops are refusing to take part in the surrender. They disappear into the desert, taking their equipment with them. Italy is trying to obtain in Syria, a strong movement to revive the ancient plan for linking the Iraq and Syrian Arabs. Iraq called up a new army class last week, and great diplomatic activity has been observed in Bagdad. It is reported from Beirut that the French liner Theophile Gautier has arrived to repatriate 2500 French troops. More vessels are expected shortly. UNREST INTENSE. VICHY ADMITS HOSTILITY. VICHY, Sept. 23. The official spokesman for the French Government admitted that as a result of General de Gaulle's activities incidents were occurring practically throughout French Africa. Africa was boiling. Unrest is intense in Syria, Dahomey (between Nigeria and the Gold Coast), and French mandated Togoland. It is expected that the two last-named territories will join General de Gaulle.