690D.11241/34
The Ambassador in France (Straus) to
the Secretary of State
No. 2591
Paris, March 9, 1936.
[Received March
20.]
Sir: With reference to the Department’s
Instruction No. 1173 of January 17, 1936, with respect to customs
privileges for American educational and philanthropic institutions in
Syria, I have the honor to report that this entire matter has the
earnest attention of the Embassy.
Since the receipt of the Department’s Instruction under acknowledgement,
renewed formal and informal representations have been made to the
Foreign Office, and this morning, Mr. Marriner, Counselor of the
Embassy, had occasion to discuss the question with M. Chauvel of the
Africa-Levant Division of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. A copy of a
memorandum of their conversation is transmitted herewith. Mr. Marriner
expects to meet M. de Martel, the French High Commissioner, who is due
in Paris toward the end of this month and will at that time endeavor to
hasten a satisfactory settlement of the matter of customs immunity for
American institutions in Syria.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Counselor of Embassy in
France (Marriner)
M. Chauvel, Secretary of Embassy in the African and Levant Division
at the Foreign Office, came to see me this morning to return my call
and to discuss the question of the customs privileges of American
educational and philanthropic institutions in Syria and the
Lebanon.
I told him that it seemed to me that the affair had resolved itself
into a question of principle and that if a principle could be
established, namely, that the French Government cannot unilaterally
withdraw or impair those privileges and rights granted under
treaties,
[Page 476]
should France
ask the American Government’s consent to a certain series of
modifications of the practice which existed prior to such unilateral
action, no doubt some arrangement might be worked out.
M. Chauvel said that the details of an arrangement would certainly
have to be worked out on the spot in Syria, since there, one had the
representatives of the injured parties.
I told him that, while that might be the case, I was most anxious
before I went out there to have the matter of principle settled, and
as at the present moment France was protesting with all its might
against a unilateral action by Germany in violation of treaties, I
did not think the French would wish to be proponents of any other
policy in one of its mandates.
M. Chauvel said that M. de Martel, the High Commissioner, was
arriving in Paris on March 25th, and that he would be glad to
arrange for him to see me at that time when perhaps in a conference
something might be brought to a head.
I said that for this and for other reasons I would be glad to see the
High Commissioner.
