501.BC Greece/8–1647: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation in Syria
us urgent
niact
178. Syrian Representative on Security Council has indicated to USUN that he will abstain on vote on US resolution re Greek case [Page 883] unless he receives specific instructions from his Govt. His abstention might result in failure of resolution to receive required majority of seven.
Please urgently inform FonOff that we consider this particular question so important that we hope it will send necessary instructions to its representative New York to make sure he fully understands position of Syrian Govt. If you think it necessary you may point out that on this issue we are taking lead in defending small nations against outside interference and that to carry this defense to successful conclusion we must have support of all countries who desire to see freedom of small nations maintained. By virtue of her membership on Security Council Syria is in especially good position to give support and in our view should do so in her own interest as well as in interest of general principles international security.
Since vote on resolution may occur Tuesday, April [August] 19, time is important.
Sent Damascus as 178; rptd New York as 358.