Malta, July 12, Three Stalian Aghters were brought Jdown and nine damaged in an air fucttle over Malta yesterday, One Jother was probably damaged by antiairerafe fre.
An offal communique on the [battle said that a large formation of enemy aircraft attempted to attack the island but were intercepted and split up by British Aghters, 1, The Allies have no other aim in Syria than to prevent this country from serving as a base for enemy land and air forces against their military positions in the Near East, They have assumed obligations towards the Arab population, having given them, upon entry into Syria, guarantee of their independence. Great Britain supports the declaration made by General Catroux, French representation in Syria will be sured by the Free French authorities within the framework of the inde pendence granted to Syria and the Lebanon, and to which Britain as. sociated herself, 2. The Allies do not bear any grudge whatsoever against the French Syria and are prepared to grant them a complete amnesty regarding the recent fighting, They have no charge to level against any leader authorities. or troops in Syria, Ger eral De Gaulle, who never ' acted against any of his comrades in arms who fought against him in application of orders received, does not intend to do so in the present circumstances, 3, The Allies must, however, take measures to prevent war material in Syria from being used against them, Therefore, this. material must given up to them, 4, Regarding French troops in Syria, they must be freely allowed to join the Allied forces in their struggle against the Axis powers, At the same time, the Allies reserve the right to take'stops to ensure that a free choice is given every man.
5. Full facilities must be granted so that every individual be complete. ly advised of the situation and of the choice offered him, Members of the. fighting forces who are not prepared to join the Allied cause will be re-patrioted with their families, if and when circumstances permit, 6, Honourable conditions will offered all those wishing to join the Allied forces, Those accepted for service will maintain their rank and duties pending an investigation, 'The others will be treated honourably until repatriated," All emeers wishing, to aid the Allied cause will, as much as possible, be given duties corres ponding to'their rank, and their pay will be" guaranteed,' Other ranks will be treated in the same way as army officers. Those not prepared to ald the Allied cause will be repatr!= ated with their families,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.