Office of the Historian

185. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy0

Washington, March 10, 1963.

SUBJECT

  • Request for Contingency Authority to Recognize the New Syrian Regime

The Syria coup of March 8 appears to have been completely successful with no major resistance. The National Council of the Revolutionary Command is exercising supreme power and has installed a cabinet [Page 410] composed of ten Baathists, five pro-Nasserists, two Army officers and three of unknown political affiliation. Salah al-Din Bitar, a leader of the Baathist movement since 1942, is the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Bitar, who was Foreign Minister in the pre-union cabinet of 1957, was among the more friendly elements in the then anti-United States Syrian Government. He is a moderate socialist and ardent pan-Arabist but had differences with Nasser during the union and will undoubtedly seek to preserve Syria’s identity. He is likely to seek close ties with Baghdad and to maintain amicable relations with the United Arab Republic.

The position of President Qudsi is still obscure. No new Chief of State has yet been named but if Qudsi is replaced the problem of recognition of the new regime will arise.

We believe similar factors which motivated our prompt recognition of Iraq are operative in this case. Having announced its intention to respect its international obligations, the new regime (a) meets the legal criteria; (b) is of anti-Communist persuasion and will seek friendly relations with the West on a basis of non-alignment; (c) is anti-Zionist but will maintain a defensive posture vis-a-vis Israel; (d) will seek Arab unity but will preserve Syria’s independent identity; (e) in the long run, together with Iraq, will provide a counter-weight to Nasser’s influence in the northern Arab states; and (f) will oppose the present regimes in Saudi Arabia and Jordan but will not deliberately threaten United States interests.

Since Iraq, the UAR and Jordan have already announced recognition, we recommend that the United States, in consultation with the UK, also announce recognition if and when Qudsi is eliminated or if appointment of a new Chief of State is announced. A proposed recognition statement is enclosed.1 If President Qudsi should by chance remain in office, no formal act of recognition would be required.

Ambassador Knight, who is in the United States on consultation, expects to return to his post after a short leave.

DR

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 16 SYR. Confidential. A typed note on the source text reads: “Approved per telephone call from White House—Mr. Komer, 8:00 p.m. 3/11/63. Telegram sent Damascus 3/11.” Instructions were sent to Damascus in telegram 369 at 9:50 p.m. on March 11 informing the Embassy that the Department of State believed a formal act of recognition would be appropriate in view of Syria’s request and the new regime’s assumption of all executive and legislative powers. The Embassy was instructed to deliver a note to Foreign Minister Salah al-Bitar informing him of U.S. recognition of the new Syrian regime and expressing the good wishes of the U.S. Government. Ibid., POL 16 SYRIA)

    Attached to the original of this document sent to the White House is a note from Komer to Bundy that reads: “Strongly agree. UK seems to be going ahead and we should too, soonest. Same reasoning applies as on Iraq. There is always possibility of another coup (or two) soon. But we just can’t cut things this fine.” (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Syria, 3/63)

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  2. Not printed.↩