890d.01/156
The Chargé in France (Whitehouse) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 20.]
Sir: In reply to your instruction of September 29, 1923, I have the honor to report that I am now informed by the French Foreign [Page 2] Office that an agreement has been reached between the French and Italian Governments as to the French mandate in Syria.
On July 24, 1922, the Council of the League of Nations rendered a decision that the mandates for Syria and Palestine should automatically come into force when the French and Italians reached an agreement. This agreement was notified to the Council of the League on September 29th last, and the Syrian and Palestinian mandates may therefore be considered in force from that date.
No publicity seems to have been given to this coming into force of the mandate. In fact the text of the Franco-Italian agreement, which consists of an exchange of notes, has not yet been communicated to the Council of the League: the notification of September 29, 1923, being made verbally by the French and Italian representatives. I have been promised a copy of the agreement as soon as it is communicated to the League.
In view of the above, I respectfully request the Department’s instructions in regard to reopening the discussion of our Convention with the French relative to the Syrian mandate. As the Department will remember, the text was practically agreed on, the only issue under discussion being the date of its coming into force.
I have [etc.]