144. Letter From Secretary of State Dulles to Foreign Minister Malik1
Dear Mr. Minister: It was a great pleasure to see you again in New York and in Washington and to have an exchange of views with you concerning matters of mutual interest. Our discussions were, as they have always been, helpful to me in clarifying aspects of the situation in the Middle East.
It is a particular pleasure to discuss such matters within the framework of the close and friendly relationship which exists between [Page 221] our two countries. That relationship does not, as you know, involve any arrangement which would require the Lebanon to come to the assistance of the United States in the event of hostilities between the United States and any country. Nor does it involve commitments by the Lebanon to collaborate with the United States on the solution of specific problems affecting the Middle East. Rather, the relationship is based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and our desire to see the Lebanon maintain its national independence and sovereignty and resist aggression, direct or indirect.
The United States Government has made clear on several occasions its willingness to assist the nations of the Middle East to defend their independence and territorial integrity. Under the Joint Congressional Resolution of March 9, 1957, we have left no doubt that we are prepared to assist those nations to develop their economic strength and to improve their defensive military capabilities.
We have repeatedly made clear our unalterable opposition to the use of force or the threat of force between any of the countries in the Middle East and stated that we would, consistent with our obligations as a member of the United Nations, immediately take action both within and outside the United Nations to oppose aggression. In a statement issued on behalf of the President and myself on April 9, 1956,2 the White House declared that, in accordance with our responsibilities under the United Nations Charter, the United States would observe its commitments within constitutional means to oppose any aggression in the Middle East area. Again on October 29, 1956,3 a White House statement recalled that the United States has pledged itself to assist any victim of aggression in the Middle East and added that we would honor our pledge. We did so.
Your Government, I know, subscribes to the principles of freedom, and respects the freedom of others. This is one of the reasons why the voice of the Lebanon is heard with respect in the councils of the community of nations.
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684a.86/11–657. Confidential. Drafted by Waggoner.↩
- For text of this statement, see Department of State Bulletin, April 23, 1956, p. 668.↩
- For text of this statement, see Ibid., November 12, 1956, p. 749.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩