Office of the Historian

326. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria1

Washington, October 10, 1966, 4:31 p.m.

62966. Ref Damascus 384 and 392.2 During conversation with Syrian Charge Kayyali October 7 (Memcon by pouch),3 Department officers (1) expressed concern and bewilderment over Syrian accusations USG involved in anti-SARG plotting, (2) stated categorically such accusations without foundation and asked Kayyali so report to his government, and (3) noted current anti-US campaign ran directly counter to desire often professed by Kayyali and FonMin Makhus, which USG shared, for better US-Syrian relations. Kayyali noted SARG charges directed against CIA, not USG as whole. Department officers emphasized such distinction meaningless since no agency USG could pursue independent foreign policy. Kayyali replied he aware of this but same not true of elements in Syria (impliedly the military) responsible for current anti-American campaign who, he suggested, are relatively unsophisticated and not very smart. Department officers did not inform Kayyali FonMin Makhus apparently shared view of these “unsophisticated” elements (Damascus 384).

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL SYR–US. Confidential. Drafted and approved by Atherton.↩
  2. Telegram 384 from Damascus, October 3, reported a meeting between Ambassador Smythe and Foreign Minister Makhus, who gave a long lecture on the aims of the current Baath regime, the futility of attempts to subvert the revolution, with a “pointed warning against outsiders seeking change in Syria.” (Ibid., POL SYR) Telegram 392 from Damacus, October 4, reported that the Syrian Government was “heating up attempt convince itself and socialist friends US pushing hard to topple present regime.” (Ibid., POL SYR–US)↩
  3. The memorandum of conversation is ibid., POL 23–9 SYR.↩