890D.01/5–2345
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
Ref: 256/—/45
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom welcome the interest of the United States Government in the problem of the Levant [Page 1096] States and are prepared, as they suggest, to join the United States Government in proposing discussions in Paris on the question of Allied Forces in Syria and the Lebanon.
- 2.
- His Majesty’s Government do not wish to discuss the question of French bases at such a meeting. They regard this question as one that should be settled by agreement between France and the Levant States. Alternatively, if there is disagreement (as now seems inevitable), the question might be settled by the World Organisation when it is formed. At this stage His Majesty’s Government do not feel that it is for them, either alone or in association with the United States of America, to tell the Syrians and Lebanese that they must accept a French base or bases under any particular conditions, or for that matter to tell the French that in the absence of agreement they cannot have one.
- 3.
- The immediate question at issue is whether or not France will be entitled to send reinforcements to the Levant States against the wishes of their Governments. Clearly during the war with Japan there are special considerations here, quite apart from any long-term strategic rights the French may have in Syria and the Lebanon. His Majesty’s Government would hope to get a provisional understanding with the Levant States and France, as the result of the discussions proposed, that in future Allied troops will only be sent to Syria and the Lebanon by agreement with the Levant States, but that the latter will grant any facilities necessary for the prosecution of the war with Japan and possibly also that Allied troops will not in any circumstances be used for internal political purposes.
- 4.
- Clearly this will in the end require Syrian and Lebanese participation in the discussions, but His Majesty’s Government would be willing to endeavour to open matters with the French by joint representations in Paris, as proposed by State Department, provided the Levant States are kept informed. His Majesty’s Government do not feel able to recall Mr. Shone for these discussions while the present local tension continues.
- 5.
- His Majesty’s Government would be grateful to learn as soon as possible whether the United States Government will make joint representations with them to the French Government accordingly, at the same time informing the Syrian and Lebanese Governments of the action being taken and urging them to preserve order while the discussions are in progress. The representations of His Majesty’s Government and the United States Government to the French Government should, in the opinion of His Majesty’s Government, include an urgent request not to send further reinforcements to the Levant States pending the outcome of these discussions.
Washington
, May 23,
1945.