passing PHP var into JS function in included .js file?

This seems like such a simple thing but it has me stuck.
I have a function inside a function in a .js file that gets included in a PHP page. I simply need to pass it a PHP var and I keep getting various errors (usually syntax) no matter how I try.

Here’s the pertinent content of the .js file:

[CODE]$(document).ready(function() {
[… cut code …]
$(“#country_id”).change(function zoneData(countryID, zoneID, name, zoneName) {
$.ajax({
url: ‘<?php echo base_url(); ?>’ + countryID + ‘/’ + zoneID + ‘/’ + name + ‘/six/’ + zoneName,
type: ‘POST’,
success: function(data) {
$(‘#zone_name’).html(data);
}
});
});
});[/CODE]

Note the base_url() in the url section. That’s what I need filled.
I’ve tried that, I’ve tried putting it in the function arguements and replacing it with a var. I’ve tried json_encode as a var and passing that to the function. Looking at the console and the HTML source, nothing I do generates the actual base_url value, it ALWAYS displays the literal <?php…?> script, regardless of quotes or escaping….

Any suggestions? ?

Thanks for any help!

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