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.
31. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1358. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Dulles and cleared by Rountree. Repeated to London.
32. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1458. Top Secret; Niact; Limited Distribution. Repeated to London.
33. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, May 14, 1958, 1:13 p.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Transcribed in Dulles’ office by Phyllis D. Bernau.
34. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the British Ambassador (Caccia), Washington, May 14, 1958, 6:48 p.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed in Dulles’ office by Phyllis D. Bernau. The source text indicates that Ambassador Caccia placed the call.
35. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (Holloway), at London
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Files: CCS 381 Lebanon (5–13–58) Sec. 1. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Noforn. Repeated to USCINCEUR, CINCLANT, and USNMR.
36. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1558. Top Secret; Niact; [distribution indicator not declassified]. Drafted by Rockwell and approved by Dulles. Repeated to Beirut, Damascus, and London.
37. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1658. Top Secret; Niact. Repeated to London.
38. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1658. Top Secret; Niact. Repeated to London and Paris.
39. Memorandum for the Record of the State–Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Pentagon, Washington, May 16, 1958, 11:30 a.m.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Files. Top Secret. Prepared by Major General O. S. Picher, USAF, Director of The Joint Staff. A memorandum summarizing the first part of this discussion, prepared by Richard B. Finn of the Department of State, indicates that the discussion opened with a general briefing on developments in Lebanon by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs, Stuart W. Rockwell. (Department of State, State–JCS Meetings: Lot 61 D 417; included in the microfiche supplement)
41. Memorandum of a Conversation, Washington, May 18, 1958, 4:30 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1858. Top Secret. Drafted by Kohler.
42. Memorandum From Colonel D. J. Decker of the Joint Middle East Planning Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke)
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 62 A 1698, 092 Lebanon TS Sensitive. Top Secret.
43. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–1958. Top Secret; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Rockwell and cleared by Rountree, Herter, and Dulles. Repeated to London and Paris.
44. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–2058. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to Beirut, Damascus, and London.
45. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the British Ambassador (Caccia), Washington, May 21, 1958
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–2158. Top Secret. Drafted by Dulles. The source text indicates that the conversation took place at dinner.
47. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–2258. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to London and Paris.
49. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–2358. Top Secret; Niact; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Rockwell and cleared by Rountree and in substance by Dulles. Repeated to London and Paris.
50. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–2458. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to London and Paris.
51. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–2058. Top Secret; Priority. Drafted by Rockwell and approved by Rountree. Repeated to Beirut, London, and Paris.
52. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–2858. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to USUN, London, and Paris.
54. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–3058. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to USUN, London, and Paris.
55. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/5–3158. Top Secret. Repeated to Beirut, London, and Paris.
56. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/6–258. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to London, Paris, Ankara, Amman, Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, Tel Aviv, and USUN.
58. Telegram From the Embassy in Iraq to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/6–458. Secret; Priority. Repeated to London and Beirut.
59. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/6–458. Top Secret; Priority; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Rockwell and cleared by Rountree and Dulles. Repeated to London, Beirut, Paris, and USUN.
60. Special National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Department of State, INR–NIE Files. Top Secret. According to a note on the cover sheet: “The following intelligence organizations participated in the preparation of this estimate: The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Joint Staff.” All members of the Intelligence Advisory Committee concurred in the estimate on June 5, except for the Atomic Energy Commission representative and the Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who abstained because the subject was outside of their jurisdiction.