TIME RIPE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1941, Page 5

TIME RIPE

I FOR ACTION BY BRITAIN i IN SYRIA I i — ; NEED OF FORESTALLING NAZI j OCCUPATION. . ! REPORTED ARAB EXPECTATION. • (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright I '\ LONDON. May 27. The “Daily i Telegraph” says that the time is ripe for a British move to forestall die German occupation of Syria. “This is (he (leclaralimi of everyone from Syria ami everyone who is in conIa cl \\'i 1 h |teople 1 here. Tin* (lormaiis are exercising influence on (he French mlministi'.’ilioii, ami more ami more munitions ami other supplies are going to Iraq, lint .die German preoccupation in Crete provides an ideal op. port unity for ;i British occupation of Syria, if states, “The growing food shortage in Syria,” the newspaper adds, “is making the situation much worse, and in the arrival of a force from the outside and supplies of food for the populace would have a great influence. “A prominent pro-British Arab has said that the Arab world is expecting an imminent British move on Syria. The majority of the well-informed Moslems favour the British, but the Axis propaganda and gold has done much damage, and the Axis cells in Iraq Iran, Egypt. Palestine and Syria arc collaborating to influence the peoples. The Arabs have no confidence in the Axis, but they need a demonstration of British strength and a visible indication that we are able to take the initiative.” The "Daily Mail” says that every day Circassion cavalrymen and Druse tribesmen from Syria cross the frontier to join the Free French, and al] ask. "Why have not the British come into Syria months ago.? We have been waiting for you ever since the collapse of France.” "The Times” says there is no longer doubt that a grave rift has appeared in the Iraqui rebel front. The army has no stomach for the struggle, and important elements throughout Iraq repudiate the treacherous attack against Britain. The Kurdish minority in north Iraq and the Shahs, who are in a great majority between Bagdad and Basra, have shown no signs of sympathy with the rebellion. The Arab countries have solidly refused to i give Rashid AH moral and material] support. “This demonstration of Arab friendship should not, however* absolve Britain from closely watching the German activities in the Near East and Middle , East.” “The Times" continues. "We . have been too inclined to take the , Arab friendship for granted, and Ger- . many, having no responsibilities or commitments, can offer anything and j everything. No pan-Arab dream has j been too wild to receive encourage-I, ment from the German agents and. ’ above all, the policy of a Jewish nat- , ional home, exaggerated and misrepresented. has been a godsend to tlac Nazi propagandists. "Much more can be done to counteract the distrust and anxiety, caused by the constant Nazi whisperings."