Deterioration in Relations Between the United States and Syria; Syria’s Response to the Baghdad Pact and the Formation of the Egyptian-Syrian-Saudi Arabian Pact; Questions of Economic and Military Assistance; the Syrian Crisis of 1957 1
1. For previous documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. IX, Part 1, pp. 875 ff.
287. Briefing Paper Prepared in the Bureau of Near Eastern, South Asian and African Affairs
Source: Department of State, NEA Files: Lot 58 D 722, Recent Developments & Planned U.S. Action in the Middle East, 1953–1955. The briefing paper was prepared for George V. Allen. Other topics covered in the paper include: Egypt and the Sudan; Israel and Jordan; Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; Arab-Israel Settlement; and Economic Affairs (Arab States and Israel).
289. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/2–1655. Secret. Drafted by Francis Allen on February 15 and approved by Jernegan, who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Ankara, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, London, and Paris.
290. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/2–1555. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Francis Allen and approved by Jernegan who signed for Dulles. Also sent to Ankara and repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, London, and Paris.
292. Telegram From the Embassy in Syria to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 683.74/3–855. Secret. Repeated to Amman, Beirut, Baghdad, Cairo, Jidda, Tel Aviv, London, Paris, and Ankara.
293. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iraq
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.00/4–1355. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Hart and approved by G.V. Allen who signed for Dulles. Also sent to Ankara and London and repeated to Damascus, Tel Aviv, Cairo, Moscow, Jidda, Beirut, Amman, and Tripoli.
294. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.00/4–1355. Secret. Drafted by Francis Allen and approved by George Allen. Repeated to Baghdad, Cairo, Ankara, London, Beirut, Amman, and Moscow, and pouched to Jidda and Tripoli. Jernegan signed for Dulles.
296. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.001/5–555. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Hart and Burdett and approved by Jernegan, who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, and Cairo, and pouched to Jidda, Tel Aviv, London, Paris, and Ankara.
297. Telegram From the Embassy in Syria to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.00/5–755. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, London, Paris, Ankara, and Tel Aviv.
298. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.13/6–3055. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by George Allen and Francis Allen and approved by Dorsey who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Beirut, Baghdad, Cairo, Jidda, and Amman, and pouched to Tel Aviv, London, and Paris.
299. Paper Prepared by the Operations Coordinating Board Working Group on National Security Council Action 1290–d
Source: Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430, Syria. Top Secret. On December 21, 1954, the National Security Council directed the Operations Coordinating Board to develop a program for providing assistance to countries considered vulnerable to Communist subversion. The program, brought into being by NSC Action No. 1290–d, was designed to assist those countries in developing indigenous forces adequate to combat any internal security threat. For text of NSC Action No. 1290–d, see Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. II, Part 1, p. 844.
An original version of this paper, dated June 27, was discussed at the July 6 OCB luncheon meeting, where it was decided that the paper ought to be withdrawn. The paper printed here is the revised version. (Annotated Agenda, OCB Meeting—July 13; Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430) No copy of the original paper has been found. The source text is attached to a covering memorandum from Executive Officer of the OCB, Elmer B. Staats, to the Operations Coordinating Board dated June 27.
Members of the OCB Working Group responsible for the preparation of the paper printed here included: Henry S. Villard (DOS), Major General Robert E. Hogaboom (USMC), Major General J.D. Balmer (CIA), Lieutenant Colonel Bergen B. Hovell (FOA), and Dr. H.S. Craig, substituting for Livingston Satterthwaite (OCB).
According to the minutes of the July 13 OCB meeting, the Board took note of the paper and held it for final action until all 1290–d country reports had been completed. (Ibid., Syria) The Board finally approved the paper, with the exception of paragraph 33 which was deleted, on December 14. A copy of the final paper is ibid. See also Document 317.
300. Telegram From the Embassy in Syria to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 983.61/7–755. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Amman, Ankara, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv.
302. Telegram From the Embassy in Syria to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/9–1055. Secret.
303. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/9–1055. Secret. Drafted by Dixon and Wilkins; cleared with Boardman and in draft with Gray and Frechtling; and approved by George Allen who signed for Hoover.
304. Telegram From the Embassy in Iraq to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.00/10–455. Secret; Priority. Repeated priority to London, Damascus, Ankara, and Beirut.
305. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iraq
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.00/10–455. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Newsom and Wilkins; cleared with Dulles in draft; and approved by Hare who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Beirut, Damascus, Ankara, London, and Jidda, and pouched to Paris.
306. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.56/9–3055. Secret. Drafted by Wilkins and Boardman; cleared with Dixon and Frechtling; and approved by Hare who signed for Dulles.
307. Telegram From the Embassy in Syria to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.56/10–955. Secret; Priority.
308. Telegram From the Embassy in Iraq to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.00/10–1155. Secret. Repeated to Beirut, Damascus, Ankara, London, Jidda, and Paris.
309. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Allen) to the Under Secretary of State (Hoover)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.56/10–1155. Confidential. Drafted by Gray and Boardman; cleared with Frechtling and Phleger.
310. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iraq
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.56/10–455. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Wilkins and approved by Allen who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Damascus.
311. Telegram From the Embassy in Iraq to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.56/10–1355. Secret; Priority. Repeated priority to Damascus.
312. Telegram From the Embassy in Syria to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 101.24 NIS/10–1455. Top Secret; Niact. Repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, London, Paris, Ankara, Tel Aviv, Tehran, Tripoli, Rome, and Moscow.
313. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.5 MSP/10–2555. Secret. Drafted by Wilkins and approved by Allen who signed for Hoover. Repeated to Tel Aviv, Baghdad, Cairo, Jidda, and Beirut.
314. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Allen) to the Under Secretary of State (Hoover)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783.56/12–855. Secret. Drafted by Boardman on December 7; Frechtling concurred. A marginal notation on the source text by Barnes reads: “Approved by Mr. Hoover after talking to Mr. [Gordon] Gray. 12/8/55.” Also on December 8, Hoover initialed his approval of Allen’s memorandum, Document 309.
316. Memorandum From the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant for Intelligence (Armstrong) to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 661.83/3–2755. Secret. Macomber initialed the memorandum, but the source text contains no indication as to whether it was seen by Secretary Dulles.