684A.86/3–1954: Telegram
No. 777
The Ambassador in Lebanon (Hare) to the Department of State1
priority
771. Foreign Minister Naccache and Director General Ammoun told me today they deeply disturbed over incidents on Syria and Jordan frontiers past few days. They understand certain Israeli officials are urging immediate action, and they fear Israel will resort to speedy retaliatory raids into Arab territory, scoring several fait accompli before big powers or UN exercise restraint. Accordingly, they ask us, as they have already asked the British, to urge self-control on Government of Israel.
As far as Israeli-Lebanese frontier is concerned, situation remains relatively quiet (Deptel 1045, March 17)2 Lebanese military and Foreign Office sources understand Israelis are engaging in “routine maneuvers” near border and Lebanese have stationed additional detachments of observers to keep eye on situation (see Embdes 576, March 16).3 In addition, one small company been assigned as protection to coast road north of Ras Nakoura.
As Department aware, there no disposition nor ability here to pick fight with Israelis. On contrary, both on Arab boycott and Ras Nakoura traffic, there have been definite signs within past fortnight [Page 1491] that Lebanese basically would like to soften existing conditions. GOL has even sought to keep out of press inflammatory remarks attributed to Israeli officials such as Dayan’s alleged Reserve Officers Day statement that war with Arabs is “inevitable” which carried in AFP story with Defense Minister’s comments against Iraqi alignment with Turks and Pakistanis.
- Repeated to Tel Aviv, Damascus, Amman, Cairo, Baghdad, and Jidda.↩
- Printed as telegram 654 to Tel Aviv, Document 774.↩
- Not printed.↩