323. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria1
645. Dept recalls that last December in accordance with authority contained Deptel 4132 you informed GOS of US willingness to negotiate Section 106 agreement and that upon signature US was prepared in principle to sell GOS transportation equipment.
Dept also recalls GOS reaction was negative and that since then GOS has given no indication it intends conclude agreement or purchase transportation equipment under agreement.
Recent developments in area, including December 11 Israeli attack on Tiberias and question of tanks for Saudi Arabia,3 have altered public attitudes re arms shipments to area to such an extent that if Syria should now wish proceed it would be necessary for Dept to request delay pending further consideration.
It will not be necessary or desirable to inform GOS to this effect at this time. If GOS refers to these questions you should say that so much time has elapsed since original exchange of views on subject took place that you do not know whether US willingness to proceed still stands and that you will have communicate with Dept.
Further reason for responding at once in this vein when GOS refers to question is that Dept cannot now anticipate what situation in area will then be and it would not wish be placed at disadvantage by publicity flowing from sudden GOS response.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.5–MSP/2–2456. Secret. Drafted by Wilkins and approved by Rountree who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, Tel Aviv, Ankara, and Tripoli, and pouched to London and Paris.↩
- See footnote 6, Document 314.↩
- See Documents 164 ff.↩