740.00112 European War 1939/2132½: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

477. The following telegram dated January 31, 1941, has been received from the Consul General at Beirut:

[Here follows text of telegram No. 24, January 31, 3 p.m., printed on page 673.]

The general question of American trade with Syria was discussed last December with Mr. Helm, First Secretary of the British Embassy here.26 He submitted our views to London and about 3 weeks ago gave us an informal reply to the effect that it was the British policy to apply strong economic pressure to Syria, but that the British Government would give sympathetic consideration to authorizing individual shipments in which we might be particularly interested.

We are skeptical of the desirability of applying strong economic pressure to Syria, not only because such a policy would be likely in [Page 676] the long run to create internal disorders with repercussions in neighboring Arab countries, but also because Syrian trade is likely to be diverted to Germany.

Please take up this matter in whatever manner you consider best with the appropriate British authorities and urge the desirability of Syria being permitted sufficient trade to obviate the unfortunate results referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. You may point out that this Government is able to, and will, control the export of goods to Syria through the issuance of licenses for the use of balances built up in this country.

Hull
  1. See memorandum by Mr. Henry S. Villard, December 18, 1940, Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. ii, p. 632.