790d.90i15/14

The Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Secretary of State

No. 3271

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s instruction No. 1280 of August 18, 1932,11 concerning an agreement concluded on October 31, 1931, between the British and French Governments, with regard to the frontiers of Syria and Jebel Druze on the one hand and Transjordan on the other.

In compliance with the above-mentioned instruction, this matter was [Page 1008] taken up with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on September 1, 1932, and the Embassy is now in receipt of a reply from the Ministry, dated January 12, 1933, enclosing a certified copy of the Franco-British Convention of December 23, 1920, and of the Protocol of October 31, 1931, together with certified copies of the five maps annexed to the aforesaid Protocol. A copy and translation of the note from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as well as its enclosures, are transmitted herewith, together with a copy of the Embassy’s note No. 1960 of September 1, 1932,12 to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

In accordance with the Department’s instructions, a copy of this despatch is being forwarded to the American Embassy at London.

Respectfully yours,

Walter E. Edge
[Enclosure—Translation]13

The French Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the American Embassy

By a note No. 1960 of the 1st of last September, the Embassy of the United States was good enough to explain to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs the reasons why its Government considers it necessary that the Franco-British agreement of October 31, 1931, relating to the delimitation of the frontier between Syria and the Jebel Druze on the one hand and Trans-Jordan on the other be submitted for its approbation.

In reply to this communication, the Ministry has the honor to inform the Embassy that the French Government notes with satisfaction that the settlement of the frontier between Syria and the Jebel Druze on the one hand and Trans-Jordan on the other, as effected by the aforesaid agreement, will probably not give rise to any objections on the part of the American Government.

The Government of the Republic sees no objection to asking the Government of the United States to approve this boundary line, which had not been previously marked out, without, however, in any way prejudging by this request the legal issue as to whether there is a question in this case of a modification of the terms of the mandate to which the consent of the United States should be given beforehand—in accordance with article 6 of the Convention of April 4, 192414—in order that it might become applicable to the American Government and American citizens.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is forwarding with the present note:

1)
True certified copies of the Franco-British Convention of December 23, 1920, and of the Protocol of October 31, 1931;
2)
True certified copies of the five maps annexed to the aforesaid protocol.

  1. See footnote 6, p. 1004.
  2. Not printed.
  3. File translation revised by the editors.
  4. Foreign Relations, 1924, vol.i, p. 741.