890E.00/326: Telegram
The Chargé at Damascus (Farrell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:35 p.m.]
9. Referring to my despatch number 55, December 1567 I have the honor to report that Foreign Minister Mardam yesterday informed me that Syrian and Lebanese in conversations had reached agreement yesterday’s date with General Catroux by which certain governmental attributes exercised by French would on January 1 be transferred to the two Levant States. The agreements he stated would not take the form of a treaty or convention but would be proclaimed over joint signatures of negotiators.
Prime Minister in Parliament session yesterday read communiqué to above effect but worded more specifically to indicate that common interests would on January 1 be transferred. This is conditioned by proviso that modalities of transfer of powers will be the object of later specific agreements.
Prime Minister announced that French authorities have ceded following attributes: Surete, passport control, tribal affairs, dangerous foreigners, and frontier control, administration of which will be transferred within next 10 days.
Project of Syrian army, that is to say nucleus now constituted by native levies in the service of French Army, will according to Prime Minister be postponed pending study of country’s financial resources. He stated that revenue from common interests is insufficient and Parliament in due course be called on to elaborate budget to cover army requirements. Agreement has aroused universal approbation in Syria. Foreign Minister informs me General Catroux will leave tomorrow for Algiers returning mid-January to conclude specific agreements on modalities of transfer.
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