867N.01/5–2946: Telegram
The Minister to Syria and Lebanon (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 29—4:45 p.m.]
251. ReDeptel 215, May 22.55
1. In brief conversations with Lebanese President May 25 and Syrian Prime Minister May 27 regarding Palestine problem I gathered clearly that neither favored reference to UN Secretariat.
In general I gather that any recourse to UNO is disfavored by majority nationalist leaders on alleged ground that fair interpretation of charter principles could not be expected in view obvious pro-Zionist sentiment in highest American and British official circles, as result shameless Zionist special pleading and political pressures and because experience at San Francisco and London showed tendency of many smaller countries’ representatives to vote in line with British and American lobbying directives (sic).
One very good Arab source sums up current Arab tactical objectives in arranging current meetings of chiefs of state and Arab League Council as follows:
It is hoped thereby to persuade British and American Governments that if they adopt policy designed to implement Anglo-American [Page 617] Committee’s recommendations they will incur deep-seated enmity of Arab world with subsequent serious damage to their position and interests therein.
Same source added that later Arab objective may become recognition of right of Arab states to be considered “states directly concerned” if Great Britain proceeds to drafting of trusteeship agreement to replace mandate under article 79 of United Nations Charter. A corollary would be insistence that question of 100,000 Jews in British and American military zones camps be referred to ECOSOC and divorced from basic political consideration of Palestine problem.
2. There follows translation of body of note dated May 27 from Syrian Foreign Ministry in reply to Legation’s memorandum of May 20 (reDepcirtel May 1656).
- a.
- “The Syrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs presents its compliments [to the Legation of the United States and has the honor to refer] to the Legation’s memorandum dated May 20, 1946 regarding the desire of the United States Government to learn the viewpoint of the Syrian Govt concerning the recommendations of the Anglo-American Inquiry Commission, the Syrian Government prefers to postpone giving its detailed viewpoint on each one of the recommendations until the exchange of viewpoints, forming of a common plan and discussion of the Palestine question by the Arab Governments is accomplished.
- b.
- “Nevertheless, the Syrian Government cannot but express now and in a general way its deep surprise at the issue of such recommendations which resulted from a superficial and hasty study. From such an inadequate study the commission could not foretell the consequences of these recommendations which are as a whole an injustice to the rights of the Arabs, a threat to their existence, and a menace to peace and order in this part of the world.
- c.
- “The Syrian Government while expressing its disapproval of these recommendations, which contradict the right and aspirations of the Arab nation as a whole and Palestine in particular, fully trusts the United States Government will not rely on these recommendations in determining its Palestine policy.[”]
3. [Here follows report on press comment in Syria and Lebanon.] Paraphrases to Arab capitals.