890.00/6–745
The Acting Secretary of State to the French Ambassador (Bonnet)
The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the French Ambassador and has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of his note no. 184 of June 7, 1945, in which is set forth a proposal of the French Government that a Conference take place, possibly in Paris, between the French, British, Soviet, Chinese and United States Governments to discuss Near Eastern questions as a whole. Mr. Bonnet’s note takes the view that the elements involved in the Syrian question are of a broad, regional nature and that a solution must be sought on an international basis in harmony with the principles now being given concrete form at the International Conference in San Francisco.
[Page 1142]The United States Government is of course entirely in accord with the desire of the French Government that the Syrian question be settled in harmony with the principles of international justice and cooperation. On the other hand it does not believe that an international conference on Near Eastern questions as a whole would be appropriate or helpful at this time. The United States Government would, however, be glad to discuss with the French Government any further suggestions it may care to make looking toward an orderly settlement of the immediate difficulties which have arisen in acute form in Syria and Lebanon. A just and amicable solution of this question would in the opinion of this Government restore tranquility and mutual confidence, thus preparing the way for a later and more general consideration of the wider issues involved in harmony with the principles of international security now under discussion at the conference in San Francisco.