867N.01/11–344: Telegram
The Chargé in Syria (Satterthwaite) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:50 p.m.]
31. Demonstrations protesting against a Zionist state in Palestine were held in Damascus yesterday the 27th anniversary of Balfour Declaration as foretold in my 30, October 26 [27]. They were, however, very orderly and the Government, apparently fearing that demonstrations might get out of hand and be used for political purposes, did not permit any portion of the city to be closed as originally planned.
The demonstrators were mostly composed of students and were addressed by the Prime Minister.41 One group of about 100 Moslem students marched to the Legation but caused no disturbance. Their representatives and those of the university students called on me, however, to protest against the statements of American politicians advocating a Jewish commonwealth. Two committees representing the association [of] organized former students of the American University at Beirut mentioned in my telegram No. 30 and another association [Page 631] of leading deputies and journalists also called and left notes of protest. A number of telegrams of protest were also received from various associations.
While earnestly defending their cause and expressing disappointment in the attitude toward Palestine of President Roosevelt, Dewey and others the visitors took pains to express their admiration and friendliness otherwise for the United States.
- Faris el-Khoury.↩