124.90D/4
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. George Allen of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
Mr. Baudet29 called to inquire regarding the significance of the announcement released by the White House yesterday that Mr. George Wadsworth had been nominated to be American Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Beirut and Damascus. He asked specifically what was implied by the American Government when it employed the rank of Diplomatic Agent.
I said that in our practice, a Diplomatic Agent is sent to an area enjoying something less than full sovereign independence, but having a considerable degree of autonomy, and gave as examples the situation in Morocco at present, and in Egypt and Bulgaria during the periods preceding their full independence. Mr. Baudet implied that the accrediting of an American Diplomatic Agent at Beirut agreed very well with the attitude of Fighting France towards Syria and Lebanon.
Mr. Baudet next wanted to know whether the American Government would respectfully the “prestige and authority” of the Fighting French authorities in Syria. I said that although I had no authority to speak for the Department in this regard, I thought I could say that the American Government would be careful not to render General Catroux’ position any more difficult than it already is. Mr. Baudet said that the American Government’s recognition of the authority of Fighting France and the Lebanese was implicit in the fact that we had decided to send a Diplomatic Agent rather than a Minister Plenipotentiary to Beirut. He felt confident, however, that the Fighting French National Committee would insist upon an explicit statement to this effect by the American Government. I asked Mr. Baudet in what connection he thought the American Government might make the explicit statement to which he referred. He thought such a statement might be included in Mr. Wadsworth’s credentials. I said that Mr. Wadsworth’s credentials had not yet been drafted but that his suggestion would be borne in mind if feasible during their drafting.
Mr. Baudet next wanted to know when we would ask for an agrément for Mr. Wadsworth. I said that I did not presume any agrément would be necessary, other than the informal discussions which we had already had with Mr. Tixier on the subject. Mr. Baudet said that Mr. Tixier had concurred in principle in the suggestion of the appointment of a Diplomatic Agent, but that he had not considered the individual appointee and would of course expect to be given the [Page 661] privilege of granting an agrément. I said that I did not believe the Department had had in mind asking for any formal agrément* for Mr. Wadsworth. I said that if the Fighting French authorities had any reason whatsoever to object to Mr. Wadsworth, we would be very glad to receive their views. Mr. Baudet emphasized that it was not a question of objecting to Mr. Wadsworth who, he said, was well and favorably known to the Fighting French authorities, but that a matter of principle was involved. I asked Mr. Baudet if he thought it would tend to support General Catroux’ prestige and authority if we should ask for a formal agrément of the Syrian and Lebanese authorities. He said he hoped very much that we would not ask the Syrians and Lebanese for the agrément. I asked Mr. Baudet whether the Syrian and Lebanese authorities, who have been told that their countries are independent and to whom Mr. Wadsworth will be accredited, would appreciate our requesting an agrément from the Fighting French. Mr. Baudet agreed that they would not. I suggested that in view of the above, it would be preferable to handle the matter informally both with the Fighting French and the Syrians and Lebanese. Mr. Baudet expressed the personal opinion that this might be the best solution. He added, however, that the Fighting French National Committee would feel highly slighted if they were not approached in some manner shortly after the confirmation of Mr. Wadsworth’s appointment by the Senate.
Mr. Baudet’s next inquiry concerned Mr. Wadsworth’s credentials. He said that the Fighting French authorities would insist that in these credentials the limitations on Syrian and Lebanese independence, necessitated by the war, should be specified. I asked Mr. Baudet what he thought the situation would be in Syria and Lebanon after the war. He said “full and complete sovereign independence”.
I emphasized to Mr. Baudet that our discussion had been of an informal and exploratory character.
- Philip Baudet, representative of the Free French Delegation.↩
- I have asked Mr. Gerber, RP [William Gerber, Assistant to the Chief, Division of Research and Publication], to investigate the precedents to determine whether agréments have ever been requested, at least in recent years, for Diplomatic Agents. Apparently no agrément was requested for Mr. John Campbell White when he was appointed to Tangier in 1940. [Footnote in the original. See second paragraph of memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs, October 22, p. 662.]↩