890E.01/5–2345: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)
2271. 1. The British Embassy informed the Dept on May 21 that the Foreign Office had instructed it to suggest that it might be helpful if the British and American Govts could prevail upon the French to join them and the Levant States in discussions with regard to the whole question of the United Nations forces in the Levant States during the Far Eastern war. The suggestion was that these discussions might be held in Beirut.
2. The Dept has replied that since Beynet maintained that the present French policy in the Levant States is de Gaulle’s own personal policy; since it was likely that the French demand for military bases would be introduced into the conversations; and since it would be unfortunate for the three great powers to argue such a subject in the presence of representatives of Lebanon and Syria, we were not in favor of entering into conversations of this character in Beirut.
3. We feel that if we are to be successful in bringing about a change in present French methods and possibly in French policy we must convince de Gaulle personally of the necessity for it. We are therefore considering the advisability of proposing early informal discussions in Paris to be participated in, in their initial stages, by the British, French and Americans, and possibly in their later stages, if agreement is reached, by the Syrians and Lebanese. Our idea is that you, with the assistance of Wadsworth, if you would like to have him, might present the American case. We hope that Shone with his intimate knowledge of the situation will in any event assist the British representative. We would appreciate an expression of your opinion as to the advisability of endeavoring to arrange for such discussions.
4. We are deeply concerned at present developments in the Levant and feel that unless the peoples of those countries can obtain some definite assurance that the French are not intending to resort to the use of sheer force in order to carry out their policies in that area, there may be far-reaching consequences. The peoples of the Near East may lose confidence in the West if at this juncture a great Western power continues to pursue the policy France has adopted in the Levant States. Regardless of whether discussions of the character under consideration are held it is hoped that you will take every appropriate occasion to impress upon the French Govt the seriousness with which we view the situation in the Levant States and to express our hope that they will refrain from additional acts which might be interpreted as a resort to force or threats of force.
[Page 1093]5. On May 19, I expressed to Bidault our hope that the French would not land additional troops in the Levant States. During the conversation I read to the Foreign Minister a paraphrase of passages of the Dept’s telegram to you no. 1776 of Apr 30.
Sent to Paris. Repeated to London.