890E.1281/14
The Consul General at Beirut (Marriner) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 11.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to despatch No. 628 of January 13, 1934 from the consul-in-charge, and to despatch No. 2657 from the Embassy at Paris dated April 1, 1936 with regard to the Legislation concerning the practice of Medicine and Pharmacy in Lebanon. It will be recalled that after certain talks with M. de Martel, French High Commissioner in Syria, the Foreign Office at Paris confirmed his statement to me that an effort would be made to have the necessary legislation passed at Beirut to correct the situation, and enable [Page 495] American physicians and pharmacists to practice, and more particularly to teach, without being possessors of locally acquired bachelors degrees.
In the course of my first calls on local officials, especially when I saw M. Eddé, President of the Lebanese Republic, the Secretary of State, M. Tabet, and the Delegate of the High Commission to the Lebanese Government, M. Lafond, I stressed the mutual interest we had that nothing should be done to hamper the access of Americans to teach in the University here.
The Secretary of State told me that the necessary amending law had recently passed but had not yet been promulgated. I expressed the hope that this would be done before the summer holidays set in. When I saw M. Lafond on the thirteenth it was still in abeyance, but apparently he obtained the signature of President Eddé that afternoon, and communicated it to me today in accordance with his promise.
The new texts change Article One of Decrees Numbers 65/L and 66/L, which read mutatis mutandum as follows:
“Art. 1.—Beginning on November 1, 1939, no person may be admitted to exercise the profession of physician (pharmacist) in the territory of the Lebanese Republic if he does not possess the diploma of the Lebanese baccalaureate or a diploma officially recognized as equivalent,”
to read:
“Beginning November 1, 1939, physicians (pharmacists) holding diplomas of one of the Medical Schools of Beirut or Damascus must, in order to be admitted to the practice of the profession of medicine (pharmacy) in the territory of the Lebanese Republic, be in possession of the Lebanese baccalaureate or of a diploma officially recognized as equivalent”.
The new texts thus eliminate all discrimination against persons who have pursued their studies in foreign universities, making these laws solely applicable to doctors and pharmacists holding medical degrees or certificates in pharmacy from any of the faculties of Beirut or Damascus.
I am enclosing as of possible interest a translation of the governmental statement of reasons44 submitted to the Parliament at the time that the alteration in text was requested.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩