DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
DATE: December 8, 1952
SUBJECT: First Call of the Ambassador-designate of Syria
PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary The Ambassador-designate of Syria Mr. Rafik Asha, Minister Plenipotentiary, Legation of Syria John F. Simmons, Chief of Protocol
COPIES TO: S S/S S/S-PR NEA NE
His Excellency Dr. Farid Zeineddine, newly appointed Ambassador of Syria, called on me at 11:45 a.m. today to present copies of his credentials and to request an appointment with the President.
I welcomed the Ambassador to Washington and expressed to him my desire to cooperate in every way in connection with his new assignment.
The Ambassador spoke of the fact that he was most happy in his new assignment to Washington and that he was already familiar with the United States through his recent service as Syrian Delegate to the United Nations in New York City. He said that he appreciated the fine attitude of the United States towards his country, adding that this applied not only to Syria but to the other Arab countries with which Syria was so closely affiliated. He assured me that he was ready and willing to cooperate in every possible way, during his assignment here, and expressed appreciation of my offer to be helpful to him in connection with his new activities in Washington.
After some further general conversation, the Ambassador departed.
No matters of political nature were discussed.
S/S-PR:JFSimmons:jjm