Paraphrase of Code Cablegram Recieved at the War Department at 9:50, July 10, 1941 London, filed 15:25, July 10, 1941 1. With reference to your cabled instruction to send foward the digest of General Wavell's operations in Greece and Crete by mail, please be advised that it left here by air on July 2. 2. Russia. a. Under the command of Genral Golikon, a Soviet military mision, containing officers of all branches, arrived in London the night of July 8-9 and was welcomed with enthusiasm by press and public. b. Responsible informants here report that Stalin, in a conversation with the British Ambassador on July 9, claimed that although the Soviet position was strained it was none the less true that they had not yet set in motion their best defensive plans. 3. The following is a summary of British Military Intelligence information to the morning of July 10: a. Syria. On July 4, British troops attained Kamichlive on the Turkish border in the neighborhood of Tel Kfushek. In the valley of the Euphrates, Empire forces reached Raqqa on July 5. A flanking movement to the east around Damour has placed the British in a position to control the Beirut-Damour road. On July 9, General Dentz, High Commissioner of the Vichy Syrian Government, asked for terms of capitulation. No reports are available here concerning the provisions of the proposed agreement or if they have been accepted by General Dentz. |