751.90D/78
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Wilson)
Sir: The Department refers to the Embassy’s despatch No. 2900 of September 6, 1938, reporting a conversation between a member of the Embassy staff and M. Riou, a member of the French Chamber of Deputies, regarding the treaties designed to grant independence to Syria and the Lebanon. It is observed that M. Riou is of the opinion that the ratification of the treaties as they now stand is quite out of the question and thinks that a French representative will be sent to Syria soon to negotiate modifications.
As the Embassy will recall, on March 8, 1938,31 the Department forwarded to the Embassy, at the suggestion of the Ambassador, drafts of tripartite treaties to be negotiated between France, Syria and the United States in the one case and between France, the Lebanese Republic and the United States in the other, intended to relieve France of its obligations to the United States in Syria and the Lebanon. In its telegram No. 564 of April 8, 1938, the Embassy suggested that the Department might wish to supply the Embassy with tentative drafts of treaties covering the whole field of our future relations with Syria and the Lebanese Republic.
In response to the latter suggestion, the Department has almost completed the preparation of tentative drafts of the following bilateral [Page 1028] treaties intended to be negotiated between the United States and Syria and between the United States and the Lebanese Republic:
- 1.
- Establishment, Commerce and Navigation.
- 2.
- Consular Rights.
- 3.
- Arbitration.
- 4.
- Conciliation.
- 5.
- Naturalization.
- 6.
- Extradition.
In view of the fact that the French Government has not taken final action on the question of independence for Syria and the Lebanon, there would appear to be some question regarding the propriety of the American Government’s suggesting to the French Government at this time the negotiation of treaties the coming into effect of which would be contingent upon the granting of independence. It would appear advisable at least to wait until the terms under which independence is to be granted shall have been definitely determined before proposing to the Foreign Office a consideration of the bilateral treaties. Furthermore, any drafts prepared at the present time might have to be altered considerably in the light of the modifications to be made in the independence treaties.
It is possible, however, that some useful purpose might be served if the tentative drafts now under preparation in the Department were completed and forwarded to the Embassy for study and possibly for use as the basis for informal discussions with the appropriate French officials. The Embassy’s opinion in this regard is requested.
Very truly yours,