890D.01/663: Telegram
The Consul at Beirut ( Gwynn ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 22—12:59 p.m.]
406. With reference to my telegram 307 of August 25, noon and despatch No. 457 of same date,31 I have received a note from the Lebanese Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that the Council of Ministers at its meeting of October 7, 1942 decided to exonerate the American philanthropic, educational and religious institutions from all municipal and customs taxes in conformity with the treaties and conventions in force.
The tenor of this note is very similar to that of the Syrian decree reported in my 340, September 12, 9 a.m. and would appear scarcely to satisfy the request contained in the informal aide-mémoire I left with the Lebanese Minister.
- Latter not printed.↩