MEETING AT ACRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1941, Page 5

MEETING AT ACRE

ALL BAY DISCUSSION IMPORTANT STRONGHOLD GAINED. BRITISH & FREE FRENCH PLANS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. July 12. It is reported from Acre that a commission representing the Vichy Government, after a secret discussion throughout the day, initialled armistice documents pending their ratification. Six Australian dispatch riders escorted the Vichy delegates from Beirut. General Deverdillac represented the Vichy commander in Syria. General Dentz. He was accompanied by several staff officers. The Allied Commission comprised General Sir H. Maitland Wilson and an Australian, Lieutenant-General Lavarack, the Free French leader in the Middle East, General Catroux, his chief of staff, Colonel Brosset, and Air Colonel Vallin, and also Air Commodore Brown, of the A.1.F., and Captain Morse, of the Royal Navy. The Germans released General Deverdillac from prison to fight in Syria. He defended Damascus. General Lavarack said the Allied troops had done a first-class job throughout. “The terrain dictated that we wrinkle out the enemy posts one by one," he said. “Small parties fought battles like those of Litani and Damour, where they were faced with very difficult country consisting of boulders and hills. The junior officers showed tremendous initiative. Many had not previously been in action, and the higher staffs did magnificent work getting ammunition and food over long distances.” It is reported from Ankara that the British troops will enter Beirut today. Syria will be the most important military stronghold after Egypt. The British and Free French are reported to be creating great munition and troop depots in Syria. CEASE FIRE ORDERED.

British general headquarters in Cairo announced early today that after General Dentz had agreed to terms for a suspension of hostilities, the allied forces in Syria were ordered temporarily to cease fire from midnight last night. A later special communique stated that conversations between the allied and Vichy representatives were progressing satisfactorily but that certain details still remained to be settled. Meanwhile the suspension of hostilities was being continued. A Vichy report says the British armistice note included the following points: The Allies have no aim in Syria except to prevent its being used as an enemy base. French representation in the Levant will be assured by the Free French. The Allies do not feel resentment against the French in Syria and are disposed to grant a complete amnesty. Full liberty must be given to the French troops in Syria te join the Allies and honourable conditions will be offered to all wishing to do so. All war materials, railways, ports, communications, wireless and petrol installations must be delivered intact. All warships are to be interned at Beirut and all Italians and Germans in Syria are to be handed over. The announcement of the initialling of the armistice contrasts with an earlier official announcement in Vichy that France has rejected an armistice as “unacceptable” in view of her rights as the mandatory Power. The English proposals, is was stated, apparently were edited in such a form as to prevent all possibility of an agreement. "The British demands," said the refusal, “include the complete surrender of arms and warships and the occupation of Syria. They imply the de facto recognition of de Gaulle’s movement. They clearly show Britain’s will to

conquer the French mandated territories. “France intends not to fail in her obligations respecting the independence of Syria and Lebanon. No other Power could replace France there. France could not negotiate with traitors like de Gaulle and Catroux.” Vichy simultaneously gave General Dentz a free hand to continue the struggle.