123 W 111/420: Telegram
The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Beirut (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:36 p.m.]
479. Yesterday I called by appointment on the Syrian Foreign Minister37 in Damascus to arrange for presentation of my letter of credence to his President.37a His welcome was cordial and his expressions of appreciation of our policy of recognition were forthright and evidently sincere. Two days earlier Gwynn had given him informally copies of my letter and proposed remarks. He had also to read with care my letter and remarks to Lebanese President as published in full in local press.
Eminently satisfactory arrangements for the presentation ceremony a week from today, including an official luncheon to be given by the President was made; but on latter’s instructions he took pointed exception to the omission from my Syrian letter of any phrase indicating, as had been done by the phrase “with residence at Beirut” in my Lebanese letter, that I would also have a residence at Damascus.
Such omission he explained would be taken as a pointed slight by the Syrian people who, he said, felt that their country was far more important than Lebanon [not?] many even being prepared to admit that the latter should enjoy separate independence.
In reply I mentioned half a dozen obvious international precedents for our action, assured him no slight was intended, all that we proposed to establish [was] a well appointed Legation in Damascus and explained that as a Diplomatic Agent I must deal not only with the Governments to which I am accredited but also with the British military and Free French authorities whose headquarters are in or near Beirut.
While readily admitting the force of this reply, he held to his point; but, on my adding that it was my Government’s desire that if [apparent omission] combined office and residence quarters in Damascus where I would in fact frequently reside, he suggested that the appearances could be saved were I to make appropriate addition to my suggested remarks.
[Page 671]We thereupon agreed to the following addition which I propose to employ unless instructed to the contrary:
“It is, too, I venture to add, my Government’s intention to establish in your illustrious capital of Damascus, so soon as practical arrangements to that end can be made, a fully appointed Legation and residence for its first diplomatic representative.”