890D.01/476
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 27.]
Sir: As stated in the Embassy’s telegram No. 564, of April 8, 1938, reporting the considered views of the Legal Adviser of the French Foreign Office concerning the rights of the United States and its nationals in the mandated territory of Syria and the Lebanon, M. Lagarde, the Chief of the African and Levant Section of the Foreign Office, promised to set forth the French point of view in a written communication to the Embassy.
The communication, in the form of an aide-mémoire, has been received by the Embassy and the text thereof, together with an English translation, is transmitted herewith. There are also enclosed detailed memoranda of the conversations of March 31 and April 8 [7], 1938, on the subject.27
Although M. Lagarde promised on April 8 to supply the Embassy with information concerning the judicial safeguards envisaged in connection with the capitulations problem, the aide-mémoire of April 27, 1938, makes no mention of this subject. In a subsequent informal conversation with M. Lagarde, reference was made to this omission. The Chief of the African and Levant Section replied that he would make his promise good at an early date, but that he found himself in [Page 1022] the difficult position of not knowing exactly what to say as the whole situation with respect to the treaties negotiated with the Syrian and Lebanese authorities, and particularly with respect to the Syrian treaty, has become confused through the development, both in France and in Syria, of strong currents of opposition. He agreed, however, that the Foreign Office had formulated definite objectives with respect to the question of judicial safeguards and that he would, at an early date, supply information on the subject. He, of course, realizes that such information is essential to the elaboration of a draft residence and establishment agreement.
As regards the opposition to the treaties that are to establish the new order in Syria and the Lebanon, which opposition relates primarily to the Syrian treaty, it should be borne in mind that the treaties were the work of the Popular Front Government of M. Léon Blum, and that as the authority of the leader of the Socialist Party waned, opposition to the termination of French control over Syria became more vociferous in France. The opponents of the Syrian treaty in France argue that France must not abandon the Christian population of Syria to certain despoliation by the Moslem majority and, furthermore, that international developments since the negotiation of the treaty have made it imperative that the French retain a foothold in the eastern Mediterranean. The critics of the treaty contend that this foothold in the eastern Mediterranean can be assured only through revision of the treaty. The Christians of Syria have, apparently, taken full advantage of this situation, and, according to M. Lagarde, are pressing for further safeguards than those which have been obtained to date in their behalf by the French Government. Under these circumstances there seems ample reason to believe that ratification of the treaties will not be accomplished in the very near future.
Now that the Foreign Office has made its point of view definitely known with respect to the question of prior assent by the American Government to termination of the Mandate, but at the same time has admitted responsibility with respect to the safeguarding of future American rights in Syria and the Lebanon and has proposed tripartite negotiations looking to the conclusion of agreements which will assure those rights, the Department will, of course, wish to supply the Embassy with further instructions. In the meantime the Embassy will continue to press for information on the question of judicial safeguards and will also follow closely such developments as may have an important bearing on the question of the ratification of the Franco-Syrian and the Franco-Lebanese treaties.
It has, no doubt, occurred to the Department that the British Government has, since the signature of the Franco-Syrian and the Franco-Lebanese [Page 1023] treaties, presumably been giving consideration to the question of its future treaty relations with Syria and the Lebanon. In the event the Department has obtained any information as to the intentions in this regard of the British Government it might prove helpful if the information were passed on to the Embassy.
Respectfully yours,
Counselor of Embassy