790d.90i15/14
The Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Secretary of
State
No. 3271
Paris, January 19,
1933.
[Received January 31.]
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,
[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.