Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

890D.927/143: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State

Vichy, May 10, 1941—3 p.m.
[Received 3:50 p.m.]

533. Department’s 369, April 29, 6 p.m.,¹¹ Oriental Institute of Chicago. A note drafted on the basis of the Department’s instruction¹² was delivered to the Foreign Office on April 8 and has remained unanswered.

We have had a talk with Lagarde,¹³ however, and he has pointed out confidentially that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter the concession has been retroceded to the Germans. At a moment when the French Government is bracing itself to resist increasing German pressure in matters pertaining to Syria, he is reluctant to reopen a question which the Germans consider settled. He requested that we do not press the matter, adding that any application made by the Oriental Institute for a new concession anywhere in Syria would be acted upon promptly and favorably.

In the absence of political considerations of which we in Vichy are unaware we are inclined to agree that it would be wise not to press the matter at this time.

Leahy

11. Not printed.
12. Supra.
13. Ernest Lagarde, Chief of Africa–Levant Section in the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.