890E.01/12–2245: Telegram

The Chargé in Lebanon ( Mattison ) to the Secretary of State

429. Lebanese Foreign Ministry late last night published statement on Anglo-French agreement, full text of which I am forwardling by airgram today.89

Statement emphasized that Lebanon would not be bound by decisions taken in its absence and as member of United Nations would not accept any act tending to modify Lebanon’s status in UNO or Arab League. [Page 1186] Franco-British military talks now in progress in Beirut would be given most vigilant attention.

British First Secretary Young told me last night that he was doing his best to persuade Lebanese not to issue statement as in view of British efforts to secure agreement he considered it “ungrateful” and liable to disturb the atomosphere.90

Mattison
  1. No. A–179, not printed.
  2. In telegram 100, December 27, 1945, 10 p.m., the Chargé in Syria reported the gist of a statement on the Franco-British accord made in Parliament by the Syrian Prime Minister on December 22 that “documents were so ambiguous he had demanded clarification on many points; that such clarification, though given, consisted of generalities; that he still could not understand how two countries could make arrangements between themselves until United Nations decided on arrangements for collective security in this zone; that Syria could accept only what she liked in agreements inasmuch as she had not participated in negotiations; that no nation would ever have privileged position here”. (890D.01/12–2745) The text of the statement and the comments were transmitted in the Chargé’s despatch 383, December 24, 1945, not printed.