890E.01/9–1444
Statement Issued to the Press by the Secretary of State. September 19, 194436
The recognition by the United States of the independence of Syria and Lebanon, by the accrediting of an American Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Governments of those countries, is a matter of gratification to the people and Government of the United States.
The eventual right of Syria and Lebanon to independence was recognized by the terms of the Mandate entrusted to France.37 Since the proclamation issued at Damascus regarding the independence of Syria and the proclamation issued at Beirut regarding the independence of Lebanon, in 1941, effective powers have been transferred to the Governments of both countries, subject to the exigencies of war. In that process, French cooperation has been of great assistance.
I am confident that the free nations of Syria and Lebanon will play a helpful part in the cooperative task of international peace and progress which lies before us.
The rights of the United States and its nationals in Syria and [Page 783] Lebanon, as defined in the Convention between the United States and France dated April 4, 1924, will remain unchanged pending the conclusion of new accords between the United States and Syria and Lebanon, respectively. The notes exchanged on this subject between this Government and the Governments of Syria and Lebanon will be made public in the near future.
- On September 20, 1944, a statement was also issued to the press by President Roosevelt; for text, see Department of State Bulletin, September 24, 1944, p. 313.↩
- The terms of the mandate are enumerated in the Convention between the United States and France of April 4, 1924, Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. i, p. 741.↩