890E.01/119: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 16—1:03 p.m.]
11. My 493, December 24, noon.89 I have just received a letter from the Lebanese Foreign Minister90 in which he states that his Government “has examined with the greatest attention the declaration made to the press November 29, 1941 by the Department of State91 defining the American attitude with regard to the independence of Syria and the Lebanon”.
He says he notes that the Government of the United States has in mind the conclusion of accords to take the place of the Franco-American Treaty of 192492 and continues “but pending the conclusion of such fresh accords and in view of the difficulties resulting from the present war conditions the Lebanese Government would be disposed to assume the obligations under the Paris Treaty and to assure to the United States and its nationals the enjoyment and benefits of all rights and advantages conferred upon them by that treaty.
[Page 642]A provisional accord in this sense would remain in force until the conclusion of new accords which would satisfy both parties and which would be negotiated as soon as the international situation makes such negotiations possible.
The Lebanese Government hopes that if its proposal is accepted there will be nothing left to prevent the recognition of Lebanese independence by the Government of the United States of America.”
The Foreign Minister has told me verbally that the acceptance of his suggestion would greatly strengthen the position of his Government and would be to the interest of the Allied cause especially now that the United States were also in the war.
Please see also the third paragraph of my telegram 426, October 24 and the numbered paragraphs of my 434, October 30.93
Repeated to London by mail to Cairo.
- Not printed.↩
- Hamid Frangie.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. iii, p. 807.↩
- Signed at Paris, April 4, 1924, ibid., 1924, vol. i, p. 741.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. iii, pp. 793 and 794, respectively.↩