751.90D11/11–444: Telegram
The Appointed Minister to Syria and Lebanon (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 3—7:27 p.m.]
240. Syrian Foreign Minister Mardam has shown me his minutes of four meetings had during last week by him and Premier with Beynet and Ostrorog to discuss “matters in suspense”, notably question of transfer of Troupes Spéciales (Legtel 132, July 4, 6 p.m.87).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finally Beynet insisted that meetings were designed to consider ensemble of questions in suspense, and Ostrorog gave following five “heads of chapters” of all questions requiring solution:
- (1)
- Treaty of alliance. This Beynet later described as treaty of friendship which might be used as model for treaties with other powers as well.
- (2)
- Military convention. This, Ostrorog said, would regulate transfer of Troupes Spéciales and collaboration of French military mission their training as Syrian army.
- (3)
- Convention of establishment. This was to be concluded on basis of absolute reciprocity; but Mardam commented to me that he conceived it as designed to legalize the illegalities of 20 years during which France, in violation of its mandate, had acquired various concessionary rights. We have, he said, no railways or port concessions in France.
- (4)
- Consular convention. Spears tells me he asked Beynet what this meant and received vague reply that it would provide for exchange of consuls. Mardam fears French wish to include, as in 1936 treaty, right to protect Syrians in foreign countries where Syria be not represented.
- (5)
- University convention. This was to be concluded on basis of text sent Department with my despatch 441, July 14.88 American University and Mission are now preparing further comment thereon to show potentially prejudicial effect on our educational interest.
Syrians maintained their position that army should be transferred irrespective of their unwillingness to conclude such a treaty and conventions or otherwise bind themselves at his [this] time to special relationship with any power. Beynet insisted all France wanted was agreement on all questions “made in most loyal spirit and which will not harm any interests”. He added: “My Government is within its rights to consider as unfriendly your attitude towards my country”; also “we are in a vicious circle”.
Syrians replied it was “an impasse” which they would wish to take to the Hague89 were that Court functioning; such being impossible they intended to appeal to British good offices, for British Government had already intervened in broader questions at issue and army question was one which peculiarly concerned Britain. Mardam explained to me that by this last he referred to Britain’s primary military responsibility to the Allies in Middle Eastern theatre of operations.
Yesterday Secretary General to Syrian President called on me to say that a note in foregoing sense would be delivered to Spears tomorrow. He adds that copies of minutes of meetings and note to Spears would be given me for despatch to Department90 which it was hoped would support Syrian proposal. Spears has already wired proposal to London.