1 3. Under the declarations of Independence new Constitutions for Syria and Lebanon are contemplated, as well as new treaties of Alliance between France and these countries. Meanwhile, they contain a clause which lays down that "in acceding to an independent international life Syria succeeds naturally to the rights and obligations hitherto [? assumed] 64 in her name". These clauses amount to a formal recognition by the Free French, Syrian and Lebanese Governments of the rights of the United States Government under the Treaty of 1924. 4. His Majesty's Embassy are informed that Egypt has already recognised Syrian independence. Saudi Arabia has expressed the intention of establishing relations and the Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs has told His Majesty's Ambassador at Bagdad that the Iraqi Government recognise the independence of Syria though not the form of Government established by the Free French High Commissioner. 5. In the light of the above information His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom trust that the United States Government will on reflection be prepared to take a favourable decision about the recognition of Syrian independence. Such a decision would be in accordance with the spirit of principles one and two of the Atlantic Charter, and would be a powerful aid to the stability of the Syrian Government and of conditions generally in the Near Eastern theatre of war. WASHINGTON, November 18, 1941. 65 890D.01/567 Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles) [WASHINGTON,] November 18, 1941. The British Minister, Sir Ronald Campbell, called to see me this afternoon at his request. Sir Ronald said he had been talking this afternoon with the officials in the Near Eastern Division concerning Syria and the Lebanon. He said it was the earnest hope of the British Government that the United States would recognize the independence of Syria and the Lebanon. I said to Sir Ronald that undoubtedly he had been informed of the difficulties which this Government faced regarding this problem in view of the questions raised by the continuation of the Mandate and our treaty rights in the two regions in question. 4 Brackets appear in the original. 65 Vol. 1, p. 367. He seemed to be familiar only in the most general terms with these problems and said I had assumed that he would wish to inform his Government fully of the point of view of this Government as explained to him by Mr. Murray and his associates. S[UMNER] W[ELLES] 890E.01/101: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Beirut (Engert) WASHINGTON, November 19, 1941-6 p. m. 210. Your No. 499 [449], November 13, 10 p. m. The Department does not understand the meaning or intent of the statement in Catroux' letter to Lyttelton that "the Franco-American Convention of April 4, 1924 extended to the Lebanon thus defined the guaranty of the United States." Please comment. HULL 890E.01/102: Telegram The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State BEIRUT, November 24, 1941-11 a. m. [Received 2: 53 p. m.] 459. Since my 449, November 13, the British have been trying to induce Catroux to withdraw his note of November 12th to Lyttelton and he has practically promised to do so. I shall therefore wait a little before trying to clarify the point referred to in the Department's 210, November 19. General Spears has made some definite recommendations to the Foreign Office regarding the wording of certain passages in the proposed proclamation as he feels very strongly that the rights of the Lebanese should be safeguarded against any French attempt to continue mandate in disguise. He believes British and other foreign interests in the Lebanon and Syria will suffer if De Gaulle is permitted to have his way. He also sees a danger to the British position in the eyes of the Arab world if the French try to justify their policy in the Lebanon by implying that they are the champions of the Christian West versus Islam. After numerous exchanges of telegrams with London the Foreign Office has decided not to insist on elimination of the reference to the 1936 treaty. Nor does it seem to be convinced that some of the minor textual changes are essential. De Gaulle has instructed Catroux to issue the proclamation this week and Catroux proposes to do so November 26. Spears has warned him that if the proclamation is published without having first been approved by the British Government the latter may have to issue a statement that it did not agree with its contents. Repeated to London, Cairo. 890D.01/558: Telegram ENGERT The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State BEIRUT, November 25, 1941-11 a. m. [Received 3:08 p. m.] 463. My 460, November 25.66 I have just received a formal note from General Catroux dated today with which he encloses a copy of the proclamation he intends to issue tomorrow morning. He states "at the moment of proclaiming Lebanese independence, I wish to confirm the terms of my letter of October 13 last and to reiterate to you the assurance that the treaty rights enjoyed by the United States in the States of the Levant will not suffer any impairment as a result of the new status conferred upon the States of Syria, Lebanon." The letter of October 13 was referred to in my telegram 412, October 14, 11 a. m., and was forwarded to the Department with despatch number 178, October 22.67 The proclamation itself is essentially as shown me privately 4 weeks ago (see my 435, October 31), however, in deference to British suggestions a few minor changes in the phraseology have been made. Repeat to London and Cairo. 890E.01/103: Telegram ENGERT The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State BEIRUT, November 26, 1941-1 p. m. [Received 2:26 p. m.] 467. My 463, November 25, 11 a. m. General Catroux read this morning his proclamation to Lebanese people. President Naccache replied that until circumstances permitted signing a treaty which would transfer to the Lebanon all attributes and prerogatives of sovereignties we were today witnessing the first tangible signs of this sovereignty. To safeguard independence France guaranteed political unity and territorial integrity of the Lebanon while the Lebanese themselves would now have to drop all partisan strife and induce all regional and religious communities to share the responsibility for affairs of state even though the war does not permit the normal functioning of representative institutions. 66 Not printed. 67 Despatch not printed. "Individual liberty and freedom of conscience will be guaranteed and protected. We renew this solemn assurance. Upon these bases, with the assistance of France and the support of Allied or friendly powers and especially the aid of Great Britain and her liberal comprehension of our political needs, I have the confident hope that the Lebanon will achieve complete and effective independence. In the dramatic hours through which humanity is living her fate is linked with the liberation of France and final victory. The day will come when in a world rescued from the violence of war the Lebanon will with the help of her great and generous ally accomplish her destiny and mission in the Eastern Mediterranean." ENGERT 890E.01/104: Telegram The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State BEIRUT, November 27, 1941-9 p. m. [Received November 28-12:03 p. m.] 468. My 467, November 26. There has been no sign of popular enthusiasm in connection with the declaration of Lebanese independence. On the contrary most Lebanese are disappointed with Catroux's proclamation and resent his reference to the treaty of 1936 and other passages indicating that France will insist upon a privileged position which may prove incompatible with real independence. Many leaders outside the immediate entourage of the President feel that they should raise their voices in protest before the Free French have obliged the present Government to sign away any important rights. They desire to postpone a definitive treaty until after the war when elections can be held and the true wishes of the people can be ascertained. The Maronite Patriarch has been particularly bitter in his opposition to Naccache, whom he considers a creature of the Jesuits even though he is a Maronite, and to Catroux who appears to have slighted him. To all those who have come to see me or have sent word to me I have counseled great prudence and much patience and above all no action that might render the prosecution of the war by the Allies more difficult. Repeated to London and Cairo. ENGERT 890E.01/102: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Beirut (Engert) WASHINGTON, November 28, 1941-8 p. m. 214. Your no. 459, November 24, 11 a. m. British Embassy, in an aide-mémoire handed Department on November 18, states that the new régime established in Syria involves a change in the mandate but not a termination thereof in toto. Syria, in the British Government's view, is to be in a position under the new régime analogous to that of Iraq before Iraq became a member of the League. The Department has pointed out to the Embassy that this view is somewhat surprising since we had been under the impression that the British and Free French authorities intended that the mandate would be considered by them as terminated immediately. Your no. 404, October 8, 10 a. m., was cited in this connection. General Spears' uncertainty regarding the continuing French position in Syria appears to correspond to our own. The opposition he expresses to the continuation of the mandate does not appear to be felt, however, by his Government. You may inform General Spears of the statement made to the Department by the Embassy. Please report any further information you may obtain regarding the British and Free French attitudes toward the question whether the mandate is to be considered as terminated. HULL 890E.01/106 Press Release Issued by the Department of State, November 29, 1941 Inquiries have been received as to the attitude of this Government in view of the proclamation issued at Damascus on September 27, 1941, regarding the independence of Syria, and the proclamation issued at Beirut on November 26, 1941, regarding the independence of the Lebanon. The American Government and people have always sympathized with the natural and legitimate aspirations of the peoples of Syria and the Lebanon. This Government therefore welcomes any steps toward the realization of these aspirations, chief among which is, of course, the full enjoyment of sovereign independence. The Convention between the United States and France, signed at Paris on April 4, 1924, and the provisions of the mandate for Syria and the Lebanon included therein, clearly embody the idea of Syrian and Lebanese independence. The American Government continues to support these provisions which it endorsed in 1924 and which are a cornerstone of the mandate principle. The 1924 convention, which also set forth the rights of the United States and its nationals in the areas concerned, was formally ratified by the American Government in accordance with the required constitutional procedure, and must be regarded as continuing in effect until new instruments of a mutually satisfactory nature can be similarly negotiated and ratified. This Government is hopeful that, as soon as international conditions permit, |