344. Telegram From the Embassy in Syria to the Department of State1
1671. Following is translation text official release Jan 10:
“Syrian Government has read President Eisenhower’s statement addressed to Congress January 5, 1957. While it welcomes that part of statement regarding US support, without reservation, of full sovereignty and independence of Middle East nations, Syrian Government should, however, state following:
- “First—Syrian Government rejects theory that presence economic interests for a state or group of states in any area of world grants it or them right interfere in affairs that area in order protect those interests; this theory openly conflicts with principles of respect of sovereignty, which should be taken as a basis for relations between states and on which UN Charter based.
- “Second—Syrian Government considers theory of vacuum is artificial theory that imperialism uses as instrument to justify its interference and domination. Government categorically rejects this theory because there is no vacuum in M. E. area since its states have acquired their freedom and independence. In addition, Arab states alone are owners of natural right of defending their independence, unity of their territory, and of exercising their full sovereignty without any control or foreign influence.
- “Third—remote historic events and recent events which continue to live in minds of whole world prove in conclusive manner that there is no trace of international communist danger in our country threatening its safety, independence, and freedom. Established facts, on contrary, absolutely prove that trouble in Arab country and possibility of aggression against it are caused only by and only come from imperialism and Zionism. Perhaps a watcher of these events would trace their origin to a long history which ends with establishment of Israel in heart of Arab country. Imperialist and Zionist greeds have indeed been openly proved by collaboration of these two menaces in last aggression on Egypt.
“It is to be regretted that President Eisenhower overlooked reference to this important international event toward which America itself and President have taken stand worthy of appreciation and that aggressive states described as governments and peoples who had decent respect for opinions of mankind.
“While pointing out seriousness of Eisenhower’s statement, Syrian Government announces its firm belief that task of preserving peace and security in M. E. is responsibility of inhabitants of this [Page 610] area, who alone have the right of defending themselves against any danger threatening them irrespective its origin.”2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.80/1–1157. Priority. The source text does not indicate a time of transmission.↩
- In a separate telegram, the Embassy in Damascus reported that according to Ghalib Kayyali, the Syrian statement was “favorable” in that it did not constitute a flat rejection, left the door open for further Syrian consideration of the Eisenhower program, and was the best of 10 drafts considered by the Syrian Cabinet. Moose commented that it would be best for the Department to show no surprise or concern over the Syrian declaration. (Telegram 1676, January 12; Ibid., 611.80/1–1257)↩