890D.01/7–845: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:32 p.m.]
4100. The following communiqué issued by FonOff:
“In accordance with a declaration made at Beirut54 by Gen. Beynet, French Delegate General and Plenipotentiary in the Levant, it has been decided in view of the end of hostilities in Europe to agree to the desire of Syria and Lebanon to establish a national army, and consequently to transfer to the Syrian and Lebanese Govts the locally recruited military units which are under French control.55 The details of the transfer will be settled within 45 days.”
Figaro comments on above that “French diplomatic circles” consider that it should be interpreted as indicating a French desire to reestablish cordial relations with Syria and Lebanon and to establish their independence fully and definitely, thus contradicting certain rumors current abroad.
Sent Dept as 4100 rptd Beirut as 44 and London as 502.
- Presumably, the communiqué issued on July 8 by the Delegation Generate; for text, see telegram 211, July 9, 2 a.m., from Beirut, Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), 1945, vol. i, p. 968.↩
- For accounts by Mr. Wadsworth of his discussions with Count Ostrorog and Major General Pilleau on the transfer of the Troupes Spéciales and other matters, see his telegrams 208, July 7, 3 p.m., and 213, July 9, 7 p.m., ibid, pp. 967 and 969; for report by the Ambassador in the United Kingdom on remarks made by a “FonOff official” on the situation in the Levant, see his telegram 6908, July 9, 8 p.m., ibid., p. 970.↩