Memorandum from Acting Secretary of State Joseph Grew to President Harry S. Truman, Current Foreign Developments

TOP SECRET DECLASSIFIED E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, Aug. 10, By NITHA NARS Date 6.26.25 1972 June 5, 1945 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Current Foreim Developments Levantines Grateful to U.S. The Presidents and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both Syria and Lebanon have expressed deep appreciation for what the Syrians call the "precious support* of the American Government "during the bloody days of abominable oppression". The Lebanese authorities have expressed concern that their country should not be left in a more onerous relationship viv-à-vis the French than Syris. The British interven- tion has apparently so far affected Syria only, leaving the French in militery control of Lebanon, since the Lebanese authorities averted any disturbences. In Paris, British Ambassador Duff Cooper told Ambassador Caffery that he experienced sympathy for the French Foreign Minister when the lattor showed him the very stiffly worded London instructions to the British military in the Levant. The most extreme French reaction 80 far reported to the British attitude has been that of Finance Minister Pleven. He told Ambassador Caffery last Friday that if France now had to withdraw from the Levant, "it would be a pleasure to see Britain face to face with Russin in the Middle East as there was no doubt in the minds of the French which was the stronger". The French would be glad to leave the British "to the isolation that they so richly deserve". Security 3. Becomes to may