SYRIA’S ATTITUDE

Evening Star, Issue 23697, 3 October 1940, Page 9

SYRIA’S ATTITUDE

ITALIAN DEMANDS EVADED DR REFUSED DELEGATES RECALLED IN DISGRACE LONDON, October 2, Information has leaked out that five Italian generals who went to Syria to negotiate the surrender of the French mandate, have been recalled in disgrace to Rome and been replaced by new delegates. Nearly all their demands met with evasion or a blank refusal. The Italians demanded the handing over of 500 planes, to which the High Commissioner, M. Puaux, replied that some of the planes had left for an unknown destination and others had been sold to the Government at Lebanon. M. Puaux also informed the Italians that the air bases demanded by them were Lebanese property and could not be touched without the consent of the League of Nations. The Italians pressed for a reduction of the army to the pre-war size of 40,000, hut were told that this would leave Syria defenceless. The latest development is that the Italian Commission has begun to spread Fascist and Nazi influence in Syria. It is also making new demands, which include permission to return to Syria for all Italians and Germans who have been expelled or departed since the outbreak of war, indemnities for all Italians and Ger-* mans arrested in Syria, permission to publish an. Italian newspaper in Beirut,and that Italian and German youth organisations be permitted to resume their activities in Syria and Lebanon. As far as is known the French, authorities have not agreed to any of the foregoing demands. THE BELGIAN CONGO RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED LONDON, October 1. The Governor-General of Belgian Congo, Pierre Ryckmans, announced that important developments could be expected in the relations between Britain and the Congo. Probably Britain would assist the''colony financially. Lord Hailey, head of the British Economic Mission, arrived at Leopoldville, where a British Military Mission is already conferring with the Cong authorities. ARRESTED BRITDNS ILL-TREATED BY RUMANIANS BUCHAREST, October 2. (Received October 3, at 8 a.m.) General Antonescu permitted the British Consul to visit the arrested Britons, including Mrs Tracy. The Consul declared that the Rumanian, authorities admitted that two of the arrested persons had been ill-treateiU All were haggard and depressed. The Consul said a good case would be sub* mitted to the Ministry of Justice. BRITISH OIL EXPERTS SIX IN CUSTODY BUCHAREST, October 2. (Received October 3, at 10 a.m.) Mr A. Millar, a highly-placed official of the Astra-Romano Oil Company, has been arrested. He is the sixth British] oil expert to be taken into custody. GENERAL ANTONESCU PERTURBED BUCHAREST, October 2. (Received October 3, at 12.50 p.m.) Four “ Government men,” dressed in civilian clothes, arrested Mr Millar at Snagove, near Bucharest, and drove him off in a car to an unknown destination. General Antonescu is reported' to be most perturbed by the Iron Guard outrages, culminating in the kidnapping of Mr Millar. General Antonescu conferred with M. • Horiasima (Vice-Premier), who is stated to have agreed- to the purification of the Iron Guard. ADRIFT IN DPEN BOAT SEAMEN'S ORDEAL DUBLIN, October 2. (Received October 3, at 10 a.m.) Twenty-eight survivors of the Vest* vard arrived at an Eire west coast' port after four days and nights in an open boat. Their ship was torpedoed on September 27. One member of the crew was killed. SABOTAGE IN AMERICA OIL TANKERS INTERFERED WITH NEWARK, October 2. (Received October 3, at 10 a.m.) Sabotage occurred in the Sun ship* building plant at Chester, Pennsyl. vania, after Nazis and Communists joined forces. Mr Walter Appleby, the company’s marine' chemist, told the Dies Sub-committee that ho had detected two successful attempts to interfere with the machinery of oil tankers undergoing repairs. Eires were narrowly averted.