Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

890D.01/4–2549

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President

confidential

Washington, April 25, 1949.

Subject: Request for Authority to Recognize New Syrian Government.

On March 30, 1949, the Syrian Government was overthrown without bloodshed in a military coup d’état by units of the Syrian Army led by the Chief of Staff, Colonel Husni Zaim.¹ As the situation now stands President Quwatly, Prime Minister Azm, and the former Syrian cabinet have resigned. Colonel Zaim has issued a decree dissolving the Syrian Parliament, has announced the formation of a constitutional committee to draft a new Syrian constitution and electoral law and has stated his intention to hold new elections shortly. He has recently announced the formation of a cabinet composed of reasonably prominent and responsible leaders.

Colonel Zaim has furthermore affirmed in public declarations and in a message to Secretary General Lie of the United Nations his intention to honor Syria’s international obligations. He has given at least one tangible evidence of his sincerity in this respect in undertaking armistice negotiations with Israel.

Since the coup d’état the Department has exchanged information with the Governments of Great Britain and France² with regard to the question of recognition. The British, French, and American Ministers have indicated their belief that Colonel Zaim is in complete control of Syria and that there is no likelihood of his regime being displaced in the near future. They also believe that Colonel Zaim will honor Syria’s international obligations and that recognition by the western democracies will enable us to keep better informed as to his thinking and to counsel the adoption of constructive policies. Great Britain and France have indicated their desire to recognize the new regime by Tuesday, April 26, but are waiting to ascertain the course of action the United States intends to follow, in the belief that recognition by all three governments should be coordinated.

Of the Arab states, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have stated they would recognize the Zaim government on April 23. Moreover, despite the coup d’état, Turkey has not purported to interrupt diplomatic relations with Syria.

The Department, while not implying approval of Colonel Zaim’s method of coming to power, believes that his government fulfills our normal criteria for recognition, and that withholding recognition beyond the period of time which has already elapsed (now nearly one month) would not be in the best interests of the United States. The Department is also in accord with the view that recognition by the United States, the United Kingdom and France should be coordinated and should be extended by April 26 or as soon thereafter as is practicable.

Accordingly, it is requested that the Department be given authority to inform Great Britain and France that the United States has decided to recognize the new Syrian Government, and to take appropriate steps toward extending recognition after coordinating its arrangements in this regard with those governments.³

Dean Acheson

1. Colonel Zaim was Chief of State, Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Interior in the new regime.
2. The Department of State, on April 15, had informed the Embassy in Paris that “eventual recognition Zaim probably inevitable. Dept felt, however, this shld not be hurried for fol reasons:
   • “a) We had had experience of recent unfortunate mil dictatorships in Latin Amer. We do not wish by too speedy recognition of Zaim inspire or encourage similar movements in other Arab armies.
   • “b) We thought neighboring Arab states might well take lead in granting recognition and understood this connection that Leb Govt on point doing so.
   • “c) Dept thought it desirable that Zaim shld form some type of constituted Govt other than his purely personal rule as at present existing before US shld extend recognition.” (Telegram 1221, 890D.01/4–1549)
3. The Department, on April 20, had informed Damascus that it was “considering recommending to President recognizing Zaim Govt near future. This decision based on assumption Zaim will continue maintain and consolidate effective control as well as that one or more Arab States will probably extend prior recognition. Dept considers delay beyond period perhaps totalling one month might be regarded as use of non-recognition as form of political pressure which … has in past proven ineffective as instrument of policy.” (Telegram 166, 890D.01/4–2049)

   President Truman approved this recommendation in an undated marginal notation.