337. Telegram From the Embassy in Syria to the Department of State1
1104. At noon November 8 I called on Syrian President Quwwatly and presented message from President Eisenhower (Department telegram 825).2 Quwwatly expressed satisfaction saying, for four months he anxiously awaited US election hoping for re-election President Eisenhower. He gave me copy congratulatory telegram which he sent directly to President Eisenhower yesterday (text will be transmitted only if Department requests). I opined President Eisenhower would appreciate Quwwatly’s message.
Quwwatly delivered quite a speech condemning French and British actions (but not Russian) and praising US regard for principle and its opposition to aggression and use of force. He emphasized Arab appreciation recent US acts as well as hope for application US principles in Arabs’ favor. I remarked that declaration Arabs’ regard for principle of resistance to aggression and use of force had been weakened by failure of Arabs, including Syria, support USGA resolution for cease-fire at Budapest and withdrawal Russian troops from Hungary.
Showing irritation, Quwwatly said, in effect, “since World War I Arabs have been menaced by Zionism, and with unrestricted immigration into Israel threat to us grows daily. Our first duty is protect ourselves and we invoke principle of non-aggression where it serves that purpose. If principle hinders attainment of our basic aims, we care nothing about it. Situation in Hungary is not our affair, and I do not care if 50 Budapests are destroyed”.
When I advanced idea that attitude of a people or government dubious if claimed justice only for itself, not for others, Quwwatly repeated same theme with perhaps added heat. I remarked that Quwwatly’s was frankest exposition of this attitude I had heard, but assumed that other Arabs held similar views. Quwwatly assented.
Recalling that before his departure from Damascus Quwwatly said he was going to Moscow after arms, I inquired if mission was successful. Quwwatly replied he had secured all Syria needed adding that Syria had have arms to defend itself.
I wondered aloud if Syria would not be better off without Soviet arms, advancing idea that Nasser’s success in securing Soviet [Page 597] arms some 14 months ago set in motion chain of events which brought no profit to Nasser, Egypt, other Arab states nor to world at large. Quwwatly said he disagreed but attempted no refutation. I then recalled to Quwwatly sad case of Warsaw in latter days of World War II. Poles revolted against Germans in expectation of Russian aid which came not to help Poles but only to occupy ruins of Warsaw. Quwwatly grunted.
Concluding conversation I asked about conference of chiefs of Arab states reported in local press. Quwwatly said no time or place had yet been agreed upon and no agenda fixed.
Comment: Quwwatly and I were alone. If called upon to confirm his statements he would no doubt deny them or claim he had been misunderstood. It is my conviction however that he let his irritation override his usual caution and revealed what he (like many other Arabs) thinks. His recent visit to Moscow too may have had its effect.
Foregoing might be borne in mind when and if White House prepared reply to Quwwatly’s message of congratulations.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 683.00/11–856. Confidential. Repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Cairo, Beirut, Jidda, London, Paris, Ankara, and Tel Aviv. Eisenhower initialed the copy of the telegram in the Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles-Herter Series.↩
- See Document 335.↩