129. Editorial Note
On June 23, the International Cooperation Administration announced that the United States was supplying an additional $3.67 million in aid to Lebanon for transportation and road improvement. (Department of State Bulletin, July 9, 1956, page 67)
On November 18, President Chamoun formally requested Sami Solh to form a new government. Solh insisted on including Dr. Charles Malik, former Lebanese Ambassador to the United States, as Foreign Minister. General Fuad Chehab assumed the post of Minister of Defense. The Embassy in Beirut described all three of these men as “pro-West,” and evaluated the new Cabinet as the “strongest Lebanese Government in years.” (Telegrams 1277 and 1293 from Beirut, November 19 and 20; Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/11–1956 and 783A.00/11–2056, respectively)