740.0011 European War
1939/17639
The Ambassador to the Polish Government in
Exile (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
Polish Series No. 75
London, December 2, 1941.
[Received
December 18.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that
under date of December 1, 1941 Monsieur Dejean, Free French
National Commissar [Commissioner] for
Foreign Affairs, addressed a letter to me68 enclosing a
communication of November 28 [29], 1941
from General de Gaulle requesting me to notify the United States
Government, as a signatory of the Franco-American Convention of
April 4, 1924, of measures taken by the Free French affecting
Syria and the Lebanon. At the same time, Monsieur Dejean
enclosed a copy of a similar notification which General de
Gaulle had sent to the Secretary General of the League of
Nations.68
Copies of this correspondence are enclosed.
As will be noted, General de Gaulle states, among other things,
that as leader of the Free French he has since July 14, 1941
assumed, in the States of the Levant under French Mandate, the
powers and responsibilities which France derives from the
Mandate Act of July 4, 1922; that he has invested General
Catroux, Delegate General and Plenipotentiary in the Levant,
with the powers exercised by the French High Commissioner in the
States of the Levant; that General Catroux, acting in the name
of the leader of the Free French, has, by virtue of and within
the framework of the Mandate, proclaimed on September 27, 1941
the independence and sovereignty of the Syrian State; and that
on the same basis, and taking account of the special relations
between France and the Lebanon, General Catroux, acting in the
name of General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French and
President of the French National Council formed at London on
September 24, 1941 has proclaimed the independence and
sovereignty of the Lebanon on November 26, 1941.
Monsieur Dejean called on me this afternoon and I explained to
him that while I welcomed any information that he or General de
Gaulle might supply to me informally, I felt that in asking me
to notify my Government regarding these matters they had adopted
a procedure which raised questions touching on relations between
the United States Government and the French Government, the
legal
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position of
these Governments in regard to the Mandates and the possible
relationship of the Free French and the United States
Government. In the circumstances, I felt that it would be
preferable to make any approach in this matter through their
representative in Washington.
Monsieur Dejean indicated that he understood the force of these
considerations and he accordingly withdrew the above mentioned
letters. He added that he would proceed in the manner
suggested.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Leader of the Free French
(de
Gaulle) to the
American Ambassador to the Polish Government in
Exile (Biddle)
[London,] November 29,
1941.
Mr. Ambassador:
(1) Since the attempt to transform Syria and Lebanon into a
German military base has led the Free French Forces, in
cooperation with British troops, to take in hand the defense
of these countries, I have the honor to inform you that, in
my capacity as Leader of the Free French, on July 14, 1941 I
assumed in the Levant States under French mandate the powers
and responsibilities which France has under the Mandate Act
of July 24, 1922, which entered into force September 29,
1923.
(2) I have vested General Catroux, Delegate General and
Plenipotentiary in the Levant, with the powers exercised by
the French High Commissioner in the Levant States.
(3) In conformity with the principles laid down by the
Mandate Act and with the traditional policy of France,
General Catroux, acting on behalf of the Leader of the Free
French, on September 27, 1941 proclaimed, by virtue of and
within the framework of the Mandate, the independence and
sovereignty of the Syrian State, of which Sheik Taj-ed-Din
has become the President.
On the same bases, and taking into account the special
relations between France and Lebanon, General Catroux,
acting on behalf of General de Gaulle, Leader of the Free
French and Chairman of the French National Committee formed
in London on September 24, 1941, proclaimed, on November 26,
the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon, with Mr.
Naccache as President.
(4) The independence and sovereignty of Syria and Lebanon
will not, in fact, involve limitations other than those
resulting from the exigencies of the war.
(5) They do not, however, affect the juridical situation as
it results from the Mandate Act. Indeed, this situation
could be changed
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only with the agreement of the Council of the League of
Nations, with the consent of the Government of the United
States, a signatory of the Franco-American Convention of
April 4, 1924, and only after the conclusion between the
French Government and the Syrian and Lebanese Governments of
treaties duly ratified in accordance with the laws of the
French Republic.
(6) General Catroux will continue, therefore, to exercise on
behalf of the French National Committee, with due regard for
the new de facto situation, the
powers of the High Commissioner of France in Syria.
(7) I should appreciate it very much if you would be good
enough to inform the Government of the United States, which,
together with the French Government, signed the
Franco-American Convention of April 4, 1924.
I have the honor to enclose the text of the proclamations of
General Catroux with respect to the independence and
sovereignty of Syria and Lebanon.70
Accept [etc.]
