Office of the Historian

890E.00/164: Telegram

The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

Cairo, September 29, 1943.
[Received September 29—11:27 a.m.]

1739. Council of Ministers at meeting September 27 approved proposal of Prime Minister that Egypt recognize independence of Lebanon and establish Legation at Beirut. It is reported that diplomatic representative when assigned will also be accredited to Syria whose independence Egypt recognized October 5, 1941 and where Council already on September 19, 1943 approved establishment Legation.63

In note proposing recognition, Prime Minister, after referring to desire of Egypt to see independence of these two countries become reality by return to constitutional forms with which endeavor Egypt has been in direct contact (see my despatch 1169 July 17, 1943),64 mentioned election of Lebanese President and formation of national government, stated that it is important that relations be established with that government in connection with the negotiations concerning [Page 994] Arab union and concluded that recognition conforms with established policy of strengthening ties between Arab countries.

Repeated to Beirut.

Kirk
  1. Iraq had also granted full diplomatic recognition to Syria on August 30.↩
  2. Not printed.↩