ABSTRACT

At the same time the Western Allies, who had suffered a serious defeat in Europe, were determined to strengthen their position in the Arab East. Great Britain was set to crush the Arab rebellion in

Palestine while ready to make considerable concessions to the Arabs. Although it had expressed some willingness in 1936 to change the status of the countries of the Levant to that of independent states tied to France by treaty, the Paris Government now abandoned this position. France at first put off ratification of the new treaties and compelled the Syrian Government in November 1938 to approve a number of changes favouring the mandatory power. In May 1939, however, the Paris Government advanced new propositions indicating that France did not desire-at least at the time-to relinquish her direct control of the Levant countries. There was strong opposition in France from the beginning, especially from Right-wing groupings, to the treaties with Syria and Lebanon. The fact that these groups managed to win over many former supporters of the treaties is explicable by the worsening of the international situation and the consequent growing reluctance of the Government and public opinion to accept any changes which might result in weakening French authority in dependent countries.