740.0011 European War 1939/26680: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Beirut (Wadsworth)
1. Your 532, December 22, 11 a.m. Department is gratified with results of your conversation with Catroux regarding activities of the [Page 641] Office of War Information in Syria and Lebanon, and welcomes the plans for the holding of elections at an early date.
As regards your statements in final sentence of Section 1 and first sentence of Section 2, following is given for your guidance:
While Department has worked for unity among all Frenchmen desirous of fighting the Axis, it has consistently avoided intrusion of political questions in what is regarded as primarily military question. We have never in any way indicated that provisional French Government would be welcomed but have frequently reiterated our view that French people should freely choose their own leaders after their liberation. You should therefore avoid questions of possible establishment of provisional French Government in North Africa and of such Government’s adherence to United Nations’ pact.
It would appear that you have already made it clear to Catroux that your observations in this respect were purely personal.