890E.01/9–2844
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Minister returned to Beirut recently with instructions that with the end of the war in view it is most important that our efforts should be used to the fullest possible extent to pave the way for an eventual agreement between the Levant States and the French which would permit the conduct of their future relations on an ordinary diplomatic basis. No less formal agreement than a treaty seemed likely to attain this object. Sir E. Spears was therefore to neglect no opportunity of impressing on the local Governments our view that a treaty was not only the best but perhaps the sole method of securing full and unchallenged independence.
- 2.
- The outcome of the interview which Sir E. Spears had with the Syrian and Lebanese Governments on his return is summarised in the attached statement.56
- 3.
- There is, of course, no intention on the part of His Majesty’s Government of imposing treaties on the Levant States (as they have implied in commenting to Sir E. Spears) although it still seems to His Majesty’s Government essential that some further agreement or treaty be made for the final definition and regularisation of the position. His Majesty’s Government do not propose to press the matter further at this stage.