890D.01/2–945
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
Attached are copies of telegrams24 containing the latest reports received by His Majesty’s Embassy about the Levant States.
- 2.
- It will be seen that the Syrian Government have now with some difficulty been persuaded to approach the French on the subject of general negotiations and are to invite the French to state their desiderata. His Majesty’s Ambassador at Paris25 has been instructed to inform Monsieur Bidault accordingly, and to express the earnest hope of His Majesty’s Government that when the French explain to the Syrians their proposals for a settlement they will do so with the utmost moderation and tact. Mr. Duff Cooper is to impress Monsieur Bidault that in the view of His Majesty’s Government the most hopeful [Page 1040] procedure for getting the discussions well started is to begin on the less contentious questions.
- 3.
- Now that the Syrian Government have shown themselves more receptive to advice than had been expected in the present rather tense atmosphere, His Majesty’s Government feel that any action which the United States Government may feel able to take in Paris and Damascus to support their efforts will help to improve the situation.
Washington
, February
9, 1945.