I. Background to the Crisis in Lebanon, January 1-June 9, 1958: Eisenhower Doctrine and the Nature of the U.S. Commitment to Lebanon; U.S. Economic Aid to Lebanon; The Outbreak of Civil War; Preliminary U.S.–U.K. Planning for Military Intervention in Lebanon; Efforts to Contain the Crisis1
1. For previous documentation on U.S. relations with Lebanon and Jordan, see Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, vol. XIII, pp. 170 ff. and 1 ff., respectively.
1. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.80/1–958. Secret. Also sent to Amman, Ankara, Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, and Jidda.
2. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/1–1658. Secret.
3. Memorandum From the Officer in Charge of Lebanon-Syria Affairs (Waggoner) to the Director of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs (Rockwell)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/1–1758. Top Secret.
5. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/1–3058. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Damascus, Paris, London, Cairo, Amman, Baghdad, and Jidda.
6. Letter From the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Irwin) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Murphy)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.00/2–658. Top Secret.
7. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/2–2158. Top Secret.
8. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/2–2158. Top Secret. Drafted by Eagleton, Waggoner, and Rockwell and cleared by Rountree.
9. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/3–558. Top Secret.
10. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/3–658. Top Secret. Drafted by Waggoner and approved by Rountree.
11. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/3–2058. Top Secret.
12. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/4–358. Top Secret.
13. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.5–MSP/4–1158. Confidential.
14. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/4–1858. Top Secret. Repeated to London and Paris.
15. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/4–2358. Top Secret. Repeated to London.
16. Letter From Secretary of State Dulles to Foreign Minister Malik
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.5–MSP/4–2958. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Bergus, Rockwell, and Dulles and cleared by Rountree, Dillon, and Dulles. Transmitted to Beirut in telegram 4107, April 29, which is the source text.
In telegram 4106 to Beirut, April 29, the Embassy was informed that the letter was being sent in view of the possibility that the Lebanese Government might repudiate its adherence to the Eisenhower Doctrine. At the same time that McClintock delivered the Secretary’s letter, he was instructed to inform Malik that his request for additional aid had received the highest level of consideration within the Department, but unfortunately funds to meet such a request were not available. (Ibid., 783A.5–MSP/4–2858; included in the microfiche supplement)
17. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, May 2, 1958
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President. Secret; Personal and Private. A note on the source text indicates that Herter was also present.
18. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–458. Top Secret; Niact. Repeated to London and Paris.
19. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–658. Top Secret; Niact. Also sent to Beirut.
20. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–758. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to London, Paris, and Copenhagen.
21. Letter From the President to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–758. Secret; Priority. Transmitted to Copenhagen in Tedul 15, marked “For Secretary from Acting Secretary,” which is the source text. Drafted by President Eisenhower.
23. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1158. Secret; Niact. Repeated to Paris, Rome, and London.
24. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1158. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Paris, Rome, and London.
25. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1158. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to Paris and London.
26. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1258. Top Secret.
27. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1358. Top Secret; Niact. Repeated to London, Paris, and Rome.
28. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1358. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to London and Paris.
29. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Dulles in Washington and Foreign Secretary Lloyd in London, May 13, 1958, 12:50 p.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed in Dulles’ office by Phyllis D. Bernau.
30. Memorandum of a Conversation, White House, Washington, May 13, 1958, 5:50 p.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President. Top Secret; Personal and Private. Drafted on May 15 by Rountree.