Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East and Africa, Volume VIII

890D.01/9–1845

The Acting Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Kohler) to the Minister to Syria and Lebanon (Wadsworth)

Washington, October 2, 1945.

Dear George: The first intimation we had that the Levant question was discussed during the course of De Gaulle’s visit to Washington was a brief reference in the September 6 issue of the Department’s Weekly Review,⁷⁰ reading:

“… France wants to keep a privileged position in Syria and Lebanon and still hopes to accomplish this by treaties which these countries will freely accept.”

We asked Eur⁷¹ for further information and they sent us the enclosed translation of a memorandum, written by Lacoste of the French Embassy, of a conversation between Mr. Byrnes and M. Bidault on August 24 at which Lacoste was present. Eur says⁷² that the Secretary was the only American present and apparently made no record of the conversation himself. In answer to our question as to whether we took occasion to reiterate the policy of this Government, Eur made the following comment:⁷³

“Apparently the talks were not very conclusive on this subject, but it appears that Mr. Byrnes did ask the French why they wanted special privileges in countries whose independence they had recognized. The general tenor of the Secretary’s questions certainly implied disapproval of the French efforts to maintain a privileged position, and I have no doubt the French so interpreted them.”

I am enclosing a copy of this letter for the Legation at Damascus.

Sincerely yours,

Foy D. Kohler

[Enclosure—Translation]

Memorandum of Conversation Between the French Minister for Foreign Affairs (Bidault) and the Secretary of State, Held in Washington, August 24, 1945

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3) Question of the Levant

Again without transition Mr. Byrnes takes up the Levant question: “Where have you got to there?”, he asks, putting his finger on the Syrian-Lebanese area. M. Bidault sums up the situation in a few words. He admits that mistakes may have been made on the French side, mistakes which are small in themselves, and he emphasizes how everyone has gone out of his way to exploit these mistakes at France’s expense. “What is your objective?” M. Bidault points out our desire to keep a privileged position in these two countries. “Why privileges imposed on States whose independence you have just recognized yourselves?” M. Bidault replies that it is not a question of imposing our desiderata but rather in having them accepted by treaties freely acquiesced in. Mr. Byrnes insists on the incompatibility of the privileges which France claims with the independence of Beyrouth and Damascus which she has recognized. M. Bidault (brings up) the freedom of these countries to sanction contractually certain legitimate advantages (for us) in the fields in which we are interested. “Why are they legitimate? On what do you base these claims?” M. Bidault recalls the centuries-old antiquity of France’s treaties in the Near East; the 1860 expedition which the Concert of Europe entrusted to France; the benefits which France has conferred on these peoples where her worst enemies call her to task in her own language. Finally he paints the picture of the situation of the Christians, those of Levant and those of Djezirah. Mr. Byrnes asks questions about the Maronites, the Alouites, the Druses, the Assyro-Chaldeans. M. Bidault gives him the information requested. Mr. Byrnes returns to his desk and changes the subject.

[Here follows discussion on other subjects.]

70. Entitled Current Foreign Relations.
71. Memorandum of September 18 by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs to the Deputy Director of the Office of European Affairs (Hickerson), not printed.
72. Memorandum of September 18 by Mr. Bonbright to Mr. Kohler, not printed.
73. Memorandum of September 19 by Mr. Hickerson to Mr. Henderson, not printed.