890D.01/707: Telegram
The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Beirut (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 3—12:10 p.m.]
285. During visit to Damascus September 30 for Bairam festival I attended first formal diplomatic lunch given by President. Both he and Foreign Minister took pointed occasion to urge exchange of diplomatic representatives of grade of Minister.
President said he wished American Government to know he entertains high appreciation its general policy towards Syria and Lebanon which had been strong moral support for their leader’s efforts during past year to achieve reestablishment constitutional government as necessary foundation for progressive realization aspirations for full independence not on paper only.
He said he knew those aspirations were regarded with sympathy by American Government and he recognized fully “transitional need for limited exercise of sovereignty due to exigencies of war.” Consequently he hoped now to have our help in achieving early further realization of political and administrative independence along lines already explained to me by Premier and Foreign Minister (please see my telegram No. 277, September 17, 5 p.m.)66
In political field full recognition by Egypt and Iraq had given him highest satisfaction especially as it was accompanied by promise of early exchange of Ministers. He hoped Syrian-American relations could be put on same basis.
I answered along line of earlier reply to Premier and Foreign Minister (despatch No. 170 of August 27)66 stressing that I believed Department could not under its long traditional policy feel itself properly able to take such action until Syria had at least first acquired fuller possession of machinery of government.
As his Government’s primary political policy was designed to achieve that and insofar as possible within framework of limitations necessitated by conditions of war, might it not, I ventured to suggest, be more appropriate to await realization of that policy before raising the issue. He closed conversation by expressing hope way could be [Page 995] found and asked that I consider matter further with Foreign Minister. I readily agreed.
Latter took me aside few minutes later and said his office had prepared rough draft of note to send me but in view my conversation with President he would first appreciate my comment thereon. He outlined text later given me informally by his secretary. Copy goes forward by today’s pouch.67 It makes no new important point.
I sense that, despite my reiteration of Department’s comment (telegram No. 220, August 22, 6 [2] p.m.) that there must be effective transfer of substantial authority and power to new government before serious consideration can be given to extending full recognition, note will be sent if only as formal record of Syrian Government’s desire.
I can, should Department so wish, suggest that if note be sent it include assurance that new constitutional government willingly recognizes and will fully respect all treaty rights of United States and its nationals in Syria. This at least would be advance over somewhat unsatisfactory assurances of former Syrian Government (see despatches Nos. 453, August 22, 462, September 3, and 467, September 12, 1942.)68
As Foreign Minister expressed desire to discuss matter further with me before his departure for Cairo Arab unity discussion about October 10, 1 should appreciate early reply to foregoing paragraph.
Shortly before departure lunch guests French Delegate General, British Counselor and I were taken aside separately by Foreign Minister and given embossed letters signed by President announcing his assumption of Presidency on August 17 last and expressing warmest wishes for success for United Nations cause. Letter given me addressed to President Roosevelt69 is being forwarded by pouch.
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Sent as enclosure to despatch No. 190 of October 2, from Beirut, not printed.↩
- None printed; they forwarded the texts of exchanges regarding American treaty rights in Syria. These in turn were based on an exchange of October 22, 1941; see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. iii, pp. 785 ff.↩
- Letter dated August 17, 1943, p. 985.↩