890D.00/861
The Ambassador to the Polish Government in
Exile (Biddle)48
to the Secretary of
State
No. 58
London, October 6, 1941.
[Received
October 18.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that M.
Maurice Dejean, National Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in the
recently formed De Gaulle National Committee, has asked me to
forward the attached copy and translation of an Aide-Mémoire, dated October 2, 1941.
In handing me these documents, M. Dejean pointed out that the
American Consul General in Beirut had inquired what opportunity
would be offered our Government for consultation on the possible
termination of the French Mandate in Syria. Moreover, the Consul
General there asked what guarantees would be given for the
safeguard of American rights acquired by virtue of the existing
treaties and of the present position of the United States in
relation to Syria.
M. Dejean believed that the attached Aide-Mémoire clearly set forth the Free French
position in relation to these questions.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Translation]
Aide-Mémoire by the National Commission
for Foreign Affairs of Free France
[London,] October 2,
1941.
The United States Consul-General in Beirut has enquired what
opportunities would be offered to his Government for
consultation on the subject of the possible termination of
the French mandate in Syria. Moreover, he has asked what
guarantees would be given for the safeguard of American
rights acquired by virtue of the existing treaties and of
America’s present position in Syria.
Free France has no intention whatsoever of encroaching on the
rights and position of the United States in Syria. In
particular, she means to respect the Franco-American
Convention of August [April] 4th,
1924. Nevertheless, however desirous Free France may be to
grant in fact to the States of the Levant the maximum
independence compatible with the necessities of the war, she
holds that there can be no question of legally putting an
end to the mandate régime as instituted by an act of the
Council of the League of Nations, dated July 22nd, 1922,
which entered into force on September 29th, 1923.
[Page 791]
Free France, which is only recognised—in certain
conditions—by Great Britain and the U. S. S. R., is not
qualified to ask for the discharge of this mandate, which
could only be granted by the Council of the League of
Nations.
The régime to be set up in Syria during the war cannot be
anything but provisional. Nonetheless, the Free French
authorities could not at any time tolerate that special
rights should be set aside or neglected in the case of a
nation which, by the help it is giving to Great Britain and
the U. S. S. R., is making such an important contribution to
the struggle for the liberation of France.
