Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVIII, Near East, 1962–1963

147. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Syrian Arab Republic⁰

Washington, January 28, 1963, 9:17 p.m.

297. You should seek earliest possible interview with President Qudsi in order present following written message from President:

Verbatim text:

“My dear Mr. President:

I have greatly appreciated receiving your friendly greetings on a number of occasions and most recently the beautiful card that you and Mrs. Qudsi sent during the holiday season. Many of the Americans who have known you over a long period of years have spoken of your statesmanship and of your deep understanding, objectivity, and integrity. I have wanted to write you about some of the problems of mutual interest to our two countries, and am now impelled to do so because misunderstanding appears to have arisen in certain quarters about United States policy toward the Syrian Arab Republic.

My Government has followed with sympathetic interest the rapid pace of political and social evolution in the Middle East, including the Syrian Arab Republic. We have welcomed the advent in the Middle East of independent national states dedicated to values similar to those which we uphold. We have been gratified by the steady growth of friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the Middle Eastern governments and the United States. To my mind, relations between the United States and the Syrian Arab Republic are probably as good now as they have been in the last decade and we hope for continued improvement. We are also pleased at the improvement in the Syrian Arab Republic’s relations with other Western nations as exemplified in the recently announced agreement between your Government and the Federal Republic of Germany regarding the Euphrates Dam.

It is therefore a matter of particular regret to me that some misinformed or ill-intentioned persons have imputed wrong motives to the United States in its attitude and actions toward the Syrian Arab Republic and have charged that the United States is siding with one faction against another, or that it prefers to deal through certain individuals or regimes in the area. These charges are untrue. United States policy is to seek to develop a strong relationship, bilaterally and impartially, with each state of the area. Specifically, with full regard for the right of the Syrian people to choose their own destiny, the United States has and continues to support the integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and desires to strengthen its relationship with your Government.

You may be assured that we have conducted and will continue to conduct our affairs in the Syrian Arab Republic in a straightforward and open manner and that we are always ready to discuss mutual problems with frankness. We want nothing from the Syrian Arab Republic except friendly relations and respect for our legitimate rights and interests, just as we maintain the deepest respect for the Syrian Arab Republic’s rights and interests. Sincerely, John F. Kennedy.”

No publicity is to be given message. If SARG should request publication you should refer matter to Department for consideration.

President prefers not send oral message on Allen case.¹ Therefore, you should on your own initiative make following presentation to Qudsi (leaving Aide-M?ire if you feel it desirable):

Kennedy. A handwritten note by Komer, also attached, indicates that Kennedy personally requested that the change be made.

USG disturbed to learn that Supreme Military State Security Court has charged American Consul General at Aleppo, Mr. Arthur B. Allen, with complicity in insurrection of April, 1962. Not only would such activity on part of Consul General have been contrary to United States policy, but, on basis of careful investigation of evidence available, USG is convinced that this is of flimsiest circumstantial nature and that charges are untrue. It believes that these accusations, and possibly circumstantial evidence used in support of them, are the work of elements subjected to influences alien to Syria.

It has been suggested that United States should voluntarily withdraw its Consul General from Aleppo because of these charges but, on basis of the contrived and flimsy case presented against him, and on basis of what it considers to be true facts of the situation, USG considers to do so would be a gross disservice to man himself, to United States and, it believes, to Syrian Arab Republic. Responsible Syrian officials have indicated their awareness of unfounded nature of charges against Mr. Allen. Past has witnessed how alien influences can exploit such events to advance ill-intended causes and the USG is certain that it must be desire of Syrian Government and people generally to avoid repetition of such events.

Present Consul General’s normal two year tour ends in September of this year. It is sincere hope of United States Government that Syrian Government will permit him carry on his duties in normal fashion until that time. He is dedicated official and merits at least this consideration for wrongs that have been done to him.²

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.11/1–2863. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Davies and Barrow, cleared by Rogers (S/S) and Komer, and approved by Strong.
1. An earlier draft of this telegram, attached to the source text, indicates that the oral message on the Allen case was to be from President
2. On February 27, under cover of a memorandum from Brubeck to Bundy, the Department of State transmitted to the White House President Qudsi’s response to this message, dated February 19. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 2 SYR) For text of the Brubeck memorandum, which summarizes and analyzes Qudsi’s response, see the Supplement, the compilation on Syria.