890E.00/258: Telegram
The American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 246:56 a.m.]
6. From Murphy. As the British Government continues to press for the immediate reinstatement to office of the Lebanese Ministers, Massigli is trying this morning to convince the French Committee of National Liberation to authorize Catroux to take this step which it is understood he favors. By agreement with Macmillan, Massigli is trying to avoid appearance of British pressure and if decision is taken it will be presented as spontaneous French action.
Massigli said that two members Helleu’s staff—Boegner and Balleu—had resigned to manifest their sympathy for their chief. Massigli is sending Ostrorog54 to Beirut to assist Catroux. Department will recall him as member of staff of Foreign Office at Vichy where he served until last spring handling Russian and Far Eastern [Page 1045] affairs. He has always maintained a friendly attitude toward the United States.
Sent Department and repeated to Cairo and Beirut. [Murphy.]
- Count Stanislas Ostrorog, Second French Delegate in Syria and Lebanon.↩