Office of the Historian

119. Telegram From the Delegation to the Foreign Ministers Meeting to the Department of State1

Geneva, October 28, 1955—10 p.m.

Secto 56. British delegation has handed us following memorandum on subject which Macmillan would like discuss with Secretary:

“Lebanon is small state, friendly to West and moderating influence. Lebanese President under strong pressure join Syrian-Egypt pact. A little economic help would encourage him. We might try to find a few arms for him but some economic aid might be easier. Help of some kind might make wide difference in Middle East. If one country which had refused accept Egyptian policies received our backing, that would set trend in right direction.”

Please cable summary of any US economic and military aid to Lebanon during past few years and any scheduled for current year. Please also comment on British memorandum as well as on Beirut telegram 475.2

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/10–2855. Confidential. Repeated to Beirut and London. Dulle Dulles was in Geneva attending a conference of the Foreign Ministers of France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The conference began on October 27 and adjourned on November 16.↩
  2. In telegram 475, October 26, Emmerson summarized conversations with Chamoun and Foreign Minister Lahud of Lebanon, reporting that Lahud wanted to know what current U.S. policy in the Middle East was, and specifically what the United States wished from Lebanon. (Ibid., 683.87/10–2655) In Tosec 116 to Geneva, November 1, Acting Secretary Hoover replied that while the United States “could as desirable” give prompt consideration to Lebanese requests for arms purchases under the 1953 Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement between the United States and Lebanon, he feared that “U.S. military aid might backfire unless it can be granted in context of policy towards other Arab states.” Hoover also stated that the Department of Defense had reaffirmed a request that the Department of State negotiate an agreement for U.S. rights for joint use of military facilities in Lebanon, specifically Beirut International Airport. The telegram included the following figures on U.S. aid to Lebanon from fiscal years 1951 through 1956: $11.2 million technical assistance; $11 million economic aid; no grant military aid or cash reimbursable military purchases. (Ibid., 396.1–GE/11–155)↩