Office of the Historian

890d.00/347: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consul at Beirut (Knabenshue)

Washington, February 23, 1926—7 p.m.

You should bring to de Jouvenel’s67 attention situation reported in your February 17, 5 p.m., and February 20, 2 p.m., and inquire whether mandatory authorities will extend adequate protection to Consul Keeley and to the consular premises at Damascus.

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Department will leave to you and Keeley the decision regarding the propriety of advising Americans to leave Damascus. In the absence of any disavowal by the French authorities of their ability adequately to protect foreigners there, this Government must hold the mandatory authorities responsible for the safety of Americans in Damascus. You may so inform de Jouvenel.

If you and Keeley decide upon advisability of departure of Mrs. Keeley and child, Department will reimburse Keeley for their necessary travelling expenses from Damascus to Beirut and subsistence charges during their necessary absence.

You should keep in mind Department’s November 7, 1 p.m.,68 on which you and Keeley are authorized to act at any time that, in your judgment, the situation requires.

Kellogg
  1. Henri de Jouvenel, French High Commissioner to the States of Syria and the Lebanon.↩
  2. Foreign Relations, 1925, vol. ii, p. 118.↩