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

890D.01/12–345

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson)

[ Washington ,] December 3, 1945.

Mr. Michael Wright, Counselor of the British Embassy, handed me this afternoon copies of three documents, copies of which are attached:

1. A draft agreement regarding similarity of British and French aims in the Middle East.

2. A draft agreement between the British and French Governments regarding withdrawal of troops from Syria and Lebanon.

3. An extract from a telegram dated November 16 addressed by the British Foreign Office to the British Minister to Syria and Lebanon.⁷⁹

Mr. Wright informed me that after protracted negotiations, two draft agreements had been drawn up between the British and French Governments: the first relating to the similarity of British and French aims in the Middle East, and the second regarding the withdrawal of troops. He was handing me copies of these two drafts in the hope that the Department could furnish the British Embassy confidentially its views with regard to them. If these agreements should be signed by the British and French Governments, it was possible that one obstacle to the conclusion of a British-French entente, namely, differences between the British and French regarding the Near East, would be removed.

I expressed appreciation of the courtesy of the British Government in submitting these drafts to the Department and said that after we had had an opportunity to examine them, we would be glad to pass along to the Embassy informally our views.

Mr. Wright asked me if I could glance at them at once since it would be helpful to him without delay to obtain at least my personal impressions.

[Here follows statement of Mr. Henderson’s personal views which coincided with those given as the views of the Department of State in “Substance of Oral Statement”, December 13, page 1178. With regard to the first draft agreement, Mr. Henderson records: “Mr. Wright said that the Embassy had foreseen what our reaction to the proposed agreement would be. Before presenting the draft to the Department, the Embassy had, therefore, suggested certain changes in the penultimate sentence which would eliminate such an expression as ‘the leading role’. The Foreign Office had replied that the French Government was insisting that the agreement be signed without any changes whatsoever.”]

I said that I was not prepared to discuss the suggestions contained in the telegram of November 16 from the Foreign Office to the British Minister to Syria and Lebanon since the suggestions contained in that telegram seemed to be predicated upon conclusion of the two agreements.

Mr. Wright said he thought it would be helpful if he could transmit a summary of our conversation to his Government. I replied that I had no objection provided he made it clear that my remarks were of a preliminary and personal nature and had been made without full discussion with the other interested members of the Department.

[Annex 1]

Draft Agreement Regarding Similarity of British and French Aims in the Middle East

The Provisional Government of the French Republic and His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, having examined the situation in the Middle East, declare that they are animated by the same intention to do what is required of them to ensure that the independence which has been promised to the countries in question shall be assured and respected. The two governments are agreed that it is in their mutual interests to promote, in collaboration with other governments, the economic well-being of the peoples of this region in conditions of peace and security. They will exchange information as may be required regarding the best means by which this object may be attained. It is their desire that by such exchanges of information they will be able to avoid divergencies of policy which might impair their mutual interests. They affirm their intention of doing nothing to impair the leading role which, within the framework of the full independence of the countries in question, they mutually recognise to pertain, as far as they are concerned, to their interests in the territories where they have been exercising their responsibilities since 1919. It is in this spirit that they will examine any proposals submitted to the United Nations Organisation on the subject of collective security.

[Annex 2]

Draft Agreement Regarding Withdrawal of Troops

1. British and French military experts will meet on the . . . . . 1945, at . . . . . to draw up the details of a programme for evacuation by stages with a corresponding regrouping of forces.

2. The programme of evacuation will be drawn up in such a way that it will ensure the maintenance in the Levant of sufficient forces to guarantee security until such time as the United Nations Organisation has decided on the organisation of collective security in this zone. Until these arrangements have been carried out, the French Government will retain forces regrouped in the Lebanon.

3. The French and British Governments will inform the Syrian and Lebanese Governments of their intention to withdraw their troops, and will invite these Governments to send to Paris or London on the . . . . . 1945 Representatives empowered to discuss the conditions of this withdrawal.

4. One of the objects of this discussion will be to fix the date on which the withdrawal will begin.

5. The discussion will also deal with the measures to be taken in order to enable the Syrian and Lebanese Governments to discharge their duty of maintaining order.

79. Extract from telegram of November 16, not printed.