Office of the Historian

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

Washington, September 10, 1957—10:19 p.m.

904. After reading instructions Deptel 900,2 you should convey following orally to Chamoun and Malik immediately, emphasizing pressing need maintain absolute secrecy.

1.
US has been gratified by close and valuable consultations with President Chamoun and Foreign Minister Malik in connection with grave danger to security of ME represented by current events in Syria. US now wishes to convey following additional observations to President and Foreign Minister.
2.
Nations are confronted at periods in history with need to take decisions fundamentally affecting their own destinies. US believes such momentous decisions may only be taken by nation concerned. Holding to this belief, US does not consider it can assume responsibility of urging Lebanon to follow any specific course of action or inaction.
3.
US judges that Syria has become, or is about to become, base for military and subversive activities in Near East designed to destroy independence of those countries and subject them to Soviet Communist domination.
4.
… Should Lebanon conclude that it must take action … to preserve its vital interests, US is prepared to lend Lebanon appropriate assistance in exploiting assets Lebanon may have or be able develop…
5.
Through the Joint Congressional Resolution on the Middle East the US has affirmed that it regards as vital to the US national interest and world peace the preservation of the independence and integrity of the nations of the Middle East. On September 7, in a statement concerned with the Syrian situation, the President, speaking through Secretary of State, affirmed his intention to carry out the national policy as expressed in the Joint Resolution, and to exercise as needed the authority thereby conferred on the President.3
6.
In light current developments US has already approached Government of Israel to request that it refrain from intervening in situation. US is prepared to continue to use its influence to restrain Israel. Declaration made by US in May 19504 regarding its determination to take action either in or outside UN in event of any effort to alter armistice lines by force remains fully valid.
7.
US will continue to deploy Sixth Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean.
8.
US has consulted with UK which is in complete agreement with this position.5
Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, S/S Files: Lot 66 D 123. Top Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Rockwell and Burdett; cleared with Dulles; and approved by Rountree who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Ankara, Baghdad, and Amman.↩
  2. Not printed. (Ibid.)↩
  3. See footnote 5, Document 388.↩
  4. Reference is to the Tripartite Declaration on Middle East security issued by the Governments of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States on May 25, 1950. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, June 5, 1950, p. 886; for documentation concerning its formulation, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. V, pp. 167 ff.↩

  5. Heath delivered the message to Chamoun at 7 p.m. on September 11. According to Heath’s report, Chamoun “was visibly pleased with the message and expressed gratification therewith. He remarked it was the logical result of talks with Henderson here.” (Telegram 716 from Beirut, September 11; Department of State, S/S Files: Lot 66 D 123)

    Heath delivered the message to Malik on September 12. According to Heath’s report, Malik “observed that whatever was to be done must be done quickly with unwavering determination.” (Telegram 732 from Beirut, September 12; ibid.)

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