Office of the Historian

390D.11/79

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

No. 316
Beirut, November 9, 1937.
[Received November 24.]

Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch No. 312 of November 3, 1937, reporting the verbal assurances given by the French High Commission with regard to recognition of the nationality of American citizens of Syrian and Lebanese origin, and to enclose a copy, with translation, of the High Commission’s note dated November 5, 1937, which repeats these assurances in writing.

Respectfully yours,

Christian T. Steger
[Enclosure—Translation]

The French High Commission in Syria and the Lebanon to the American Consulate General at Beirut

The High Commission of the French Republic in Syria and the Lebanon presents its compliments to the Consulate General of the United States and, referring to its note of the 2nd of this month and to the conversation which Mr. Steger had on the same date with M. de Sandfort, has the honor to confirm to him that the provisions of the Gouraud-Knabenshue Agreement continue to be applied in Syria and the Lebanon.

Steps have just been taken with a view to having the Department of Foreign Affairs recall the terms of the said agreement to the attention of diplomatic and consular agents of the Republic in the United States.

Beirut, November 5, 1937.

(seal) High Commission of the French Republic in Syria and the Lebanon
Bureau Diplomatique