Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Near East: Jordan-Yemen, Volume XIII

131. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Rountree) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, January 12, 1957.

SUBJECT

• Military and Economic Assistance for the Lebanon

Discussion

Last month President Chamoun of the Lebanon called on Sami Solh to form a new Lebanese cabinet, which included Charles Malik as Foreign Minister and other pro-Western political figures. The American Embassy in Beirut has characterized the formation of this cabinet as a pronounced defeat for Syria and for Nasser. One of the most important problems confronting this cabinet is possible subversive action by Syria and Egypt. President Chamoun has also been apprehensive lest Syria move in other ways against the Lebanon.

During the past year, Lebanon has indicated an interest in buying American military equipment under the Section 106 Agreement between it and the United States.² Lebanon has, however, not pressed these previous requests (with the exception of the purchase of 25 recoiless rifles) probably because it continues to hope to obtain arms at a cut rate or on a grant basis. Recently President Chamoun renewed Lebanon’s request for arms. Our Ambassador in Beirut has urged that we respond to President Chamoun’s request by offering a package deal which would include recoiless rifles and 105mm howitzers as grant aid, and the sale of signal equipment at standard prices.³ He says that an offer merely to sell the arms requested at standard prices would be a severe disappointment and would fall short of the “positive policy” which is expected of the United States. Because of these developments, we are taking up again the question of arms for Lebanon and will submit a recommendation to you on this subject.

This recommendation will be of some importance because, if it should be decided that arms for Lebanon are desirable on a grant basis, we might subsequently find it necessary to consider similar arrangements for other countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and Israel. Until now, only Iraq has signed an agreement under which it received a small amount of grant aid. We have reimbursable military agreements under Section 106 with Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel, but only Saudi Arabia and Israel have made regular purchases. Lebanon and Syria have usually obtained their arms in Europe. Of all the Near Eastern countries, only Saudi Arabia relies on the United States. The rest have relied on the United Kingdom and Europe. The proposed Congressional joint resolution⁴ which is now being considered will also have an important bearing upon this question.

Pending further consideration of the foregoing matters, we would like to take steps to demonstrate our friendship for Lebanon and our interest in its welfare. We believe we should immediately supply the Lebanon with some road construction and communications equipment on a grant basis. They have already indicated interest in receiving such equipment. These items would represent an earnest of American interest and it could be made clear to the Lebanese Government that we were urgently considering additional aid in the economic and military fields.

Recommendations

(1) That you approve in principle the immediate supply to Lebanon on a grant basis of $532,580 worth of road construction equipment and $1,111,845 worth of communications equipment⁵ as earnest of United States interest.

(2) That you approve our discussing with Defense, ICA and E the following possible additional steps:

(a) Agreement to contribute further to enlargement and improvement of the Beirut International Airport;

(b) Discussion with the Lebanese of possible United States assistance in the proposed housing reconstruction program;

(c) Renewal of our offer to undertake a study of an atomic energy program for the Lebanon, including financing part of the cost of a reactor, training program, etc.;

(d) Agreement to assist further in the development of village electrification and water programs;

(e) Consideration of the possibility of making needed agricultural products available to the Lebanon under P.L. 480;

(f) Consideration of the possibility of arms assistance on a grant basis as well as under Section 106.

(3) That you sign the attached telegram⁶ designed to convey to President Chamoun the general line of our current attitude.⁷

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.5–MSP/1–1257. Secret.
2. Section 106 of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, approved as Public Law 665 on August 26, dealt with the sale of military equipment, materials, and services. For text of the Act, see 68 Stat. 832.
3. Heath so recommended in telegram 1542, December 17, 1956; see footnote 5, supra.
4. On January 5, Eisenhower submitted a resolution for economic and military cooperation with the nations of the Middle East (House Joint Resolution 117, Senate Joint Resolution 19). Termed “the Eisenhower Doctrine,” the measure was approved by Congress in slightly altered form on March 7.
5. These were the amounts requested in the December 1955 Lebanese arms list. (Memorandum from Waggoner to Rockwell, November 21, 1956; Department of State, Central Files, 783A.561/11–2156)
6. Not found attached. Drafted on January 11, but not sent until January 17. See Document 133.
7. Macomber initialed Secretary Dulles’ approval of the recommendations.