Book contents
- War of Words
- War of Words
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 From the Dunkirk Evacuations to the Franco-German Armistice
- 2 ‘The Real Question at Issue’
- 3 A Necessary Tragedy? The British Bombardments of the French Fleet at Mers El-Kébir
- 4 Vichy, the Free French and the Battle for Imperial Influence at Dakar in September 1940
- 5 Promises of Independence
- 6 Operation Torch
- 7 Independence on French Terms
- 8 Holding On to Empire
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
5 - Promises of Independence
Operation Exporter and the Struggle for the Levant
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 July 2022
- War of Words
- War of Words
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 From the Dunkirk Evacuations to the Franco-German Armistice
- 2 ‘The Real Question at Issue’
- 3 A Necessary Tragedy? The British Bombardments of the French Fleet at Mers El-Kébir
- 4 Vichy, the Free French and the Battle for Imperial Influence at Dakar in September 1940
- 5 Promises of Independence
- 6 Operation Torch
- 7 Independence on French Terms
- 8 Holding On to Empire
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
One of the most significant sources of Anglo-Gaullist tension throughout this period was the future independence of the French mandated Levant territories (Syria and Lebanon). Operation Exporter (June-July 1941) was the first protracted battle fought by Anglo-Free French forces to secure French territory loyal to Vichy. It also marked a resurgence of imperial rivalry that escalated over the next four years.
This chapter introduces another complicating factor into the Anglo-Free French relationship: anti-imperial nationalist movements and their demands for independence. It explores Britain’s policy of pressuring de Gaulle to endorse full independence for both states. British policy-makers attempted to manage the rhetoric of Arab nationalism in order to preserve Britain’s regional influence. They removed references to an inherent Franco-Levantine bond from official Free French statements. They also directed the British press to avoid any mention of the Anglo-Egyptian treaty due to its broad unpopularity. The Free French, reliant upon British monetary and military support, had to acquiesce to British demands to preserve their outward legitimacy.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- War of WordsBritain, France and Discourses of Empire during the Second World War, pp. 136 - 171Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022