740.00112 European War 1939/2405: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Beirut (Engert)
51. Reference Department’s No. 43, March 24, 8 p.m., that the United States Treasury Department is presently prepared to effectuate the arrangements which have recently been made regarding Syrian trade as follows:
- (1)
- To license under Executive Order No. 8389, as amended, the establishment of a “Special Account” on the books of an American Bank in the name of a Syrian bank to be designated by the French authorities. Credits to such account may be made pursuant to specific licenses.
- (2)
- To issue licenses permitting the proceeds of the sale in the United States of Syrian exports of wool, silk, tobacco, casings, olive oil, and hides and skins, to be credited to such account.
- (3)
- To issue such licenses as may be necessary under Executive Order No. 8389, as amended, to effectuate shipments (including the licensing of payments therefor out of such “Special Account”) of newsprint, foodstuffs, and other permitted exports from the United States, its territories and possessions, or other countries in the Western Hemisphere, or the Netherlands East or West Indies, to Syria for consumption therein.
You should ascertain as soon as possible from the French authorities in Syria the Syrian Bank in whose name the “Special Account” referred to above is to be maintained, as well as the name of the American [Page 685] Bank on whose books such account is to be established, and advise this Department.