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

134. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon¹

Washington, February 2, 1957—1:10 p.m.

2773. Embtels 1737² and 1804.³FYI only. We are seeking Presidential determination under Section 401 (a) of Mutual Security Act⁴ to make available approximately two million dollars with which to provide as grant engineering and communications equipment requested by GOL in December 1955. We are hopeful necessary determination will be made in near future and that Lebanese can be advised at earliest opportunity.

Meanwhile we are considering with Defense what further military assistance we might make available and under what kind of arrangements. Providing major military items, such as heavy artillery and aircraft, would raise serious problems in our relations with Saudi Arabia, where we have not provided grant arms despite repeated requests. It could also raise serious problems in US-Israeli relations because of Lebanon’s proximity to Israel.

However, we fully aware need bolster security Lebanon and position present govt. It seems to us that Lebanon should place primary reliance upon its traditional suppliers in Western Europe for arms. US can however assist with some items on a reimbursable basis or possibly on a grant basis. We believe US can more effectively assist Lebanon and avoid upsetting pattern military aid for other Near Eastern states such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia by concentrating upon economic assistance. Expanded economic assistance program, with some military aid, might in our view accomplish desired objectives in Lebanon and would not involve above drawbacks. With ICA we giving urgent consideration to recent Lebanese requests.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.56/1–1857. Secret. Drafted by Waggoner, Rockwell, and Wilkins and approved by Rountree who signed for Dulles.
2. In telegram 1737, January 18, Heath stated that the political impact of American aid in the form of signal and engineering equipment would be minor. He noted that the political significance of American arms aid to Lebanon was more important than the military impact, since arms aid would in any event not have a “decisive effect” on the military security of Lebanon or the United States. Thus, Heath added, “I urge that arms, as distinguished from equipment, can be included in any United States offer to be made to Lebanon.” (Ibid.)
3. In telegram 1804, January 26, Heath recounted a conversation he had with Chamoun earlier that week, in which Chamoun told him that the United Kingdom would not be able to provide “Hunter” jet fighters as it had previously intimated. Heath said Chamoun asked whether the United States could supply such planes. Heath reported to the Department that he, the Army Attaché, and the Air Attaché all felt that the arms requested were “militarily necessary to Lebanon for internal and external security.” They felt that prompt receipt of such arms would fortify the Lebanese Government’s determination to resist “Syrian and Egyptian pressure and subversion.” (Ibid., 783A.56522/1–2657)
4. Section 401(a) authorized the President to use at his discretion up to $50 million of the funds made available under the Mutual Security Act, without regard to the requirements of the statute, to achieve the purposes of the act “when the President determines that such use is important to the security of the United States.” For text of the Act, see 68 Stat. 833 and 69 Stat. 283.