British Gov’t. Denies Ambassador Covers Up for Syrian Treatment of Jews

The government has denied allegations that the British Ambassador in Damascus was “covering up for the Syrian murderers.” The denial was contained in a letter from the Minister of State at the Foreign Office, David Ennals, to John Gorst, one of a number of MPs who have expressed indignation over the British envoy’s attitude toward the plight of Syrian Jews.

The matter was raised recently when Ennals wrote, in response to inquiries by MP Peter Thomas, that “Our Ambassador in Damascus has said that while regrettably and understandably Syrian Jews in Damascus are confined to the city and kept under close surveillance, he has found no evidence to suggest that they are being otherwise ill treated.” Gorst, in a Parliamentary question, demanded to know why Her Majesty’s Ambassador was “covering up for the Syrian murderers.” Ennals replied that the Ambassador’s reports “are based on the best information available to him at the time.” He added that “while we regret that it should be necessary for the Jewish community to be kept under surveillance and have their freedom of movement restricted, this is a reflection of the fact that Syria and Israel are in a state of war and Israeli armies are close to Damascus.”