Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

684A.85322/1–1254: Telegram

No. 765
The Ambassador in Syria (Moose) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

Damascus, January 12, 1954—7 p.m.

271. Embassy telegram 268, January 1 [9], 1954. Sense paragraph 2, Deptel 281, January 11, communicated Zeineddine today. He said he had persuaded Shishakli, after long conversation Sunday night, to approve Zeineddine’s proposed changes in draft Banat Yacub resolution. Zeineddine added that GOS desired find agreed resolution and would suggest other “basis for agreement” if his current proposals unacceptable tripartite powers. He neither referred Russian aid nor reiterated earlier statement (Embassy telegram 268) that Soviet veto preferable adoption tripartite draft.

Comment: Striking contrast between Zeineddine’s comments before and after seeing Shishakli suggests Syrian President exercised moderating influence on his Ambassador.

Moose

1. Repeated to Beirut, Cairo, London, Paris, Moscow, Baghdad, Amman, Jidda, Jerusalem, and New York; to be passed to the Department of Defense.