740.00112 European War 1939/2376: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
972. Your No. 1087, March 20, 1 p.m. In an urgent telegram dated March 19, 9 a.m.43 the American Consul General at Beirut reports that the French authorities in Syria are most anxious to obtain a favorable decision regarding the shipment of milk products from the United States to Syria. Unless these products arrive before the end of May infant mortality during the hot summer months is expected to increase greatly.
[Page 683]Navicert applications for Nestle’s milk shipments were referred to the Ministry of Economic Warfare by the British Embassy in Washington some time ago. The Embassy is now telegraphing the Ministry urging a prompt decision.
As regards the general question of Syrian trade, the Department believes that prompt action should be taken to implement the assurances given in your telegram No. 1087. The French authorities in Syria declare that Syrian products are able to reach Germany through Turkey without any delay or obstruction and that wool, silk, and casings are already being shipped to Germany by that route. Germany is said to be demanding more and more Syrian products and is promising to ship pharmaceutical products, hospital equipment, and urgently needed chemicals in return. The Director of Foreign Commerce in Syria, M. Soule, states that all Frenchmen in authority there wish to avoid trading with the “enemy” but that unless stocks of wool and silk are immediately purchased by England or the United States they will surely go to Germany.