108. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Minister of the British Embassy (Lord Hood), Department of State, Washington, June 27, 19581
SUBJECT
- Lebanon
Lord Hood said that Mr. Dixon had seen Mr. Hammarskjold last night and had been filled in on his Middle East mission. He assumed that Mr. Hammarskjold had also informed Ambassador Lodge. It seemed clear that what Mr. Hammarskjold envisaged was a short [Page 182] respite in order to provide time for political solutions in Lebanon. Mr. Selwyn Lloyd now felt that the United States, the United Kingdom and France should urge such a solution.
Although we had been reluctant in the past to inform Chamoun that he should step down, it now seemed necessary to advise him on the political future. Chamoun had stated privately that he would not expect to seek reelection, but there still was widespread doubt as to his intentions in this regard. Until these doubts were resolved, it appeared unlikely that progress could be made in selecting and obtaining support for his successor. If the present situation should continue, there was a grave danger that Chamoun himself might be thrown out by the rebels, leading to chaos in Lebanon with the likelihood of an ultimate takeover by the UAR. On the other hand, if Chamoun should declare his intention not to seek reelection, it might be possible to rally moderate elements in support of a satisfactory alternate.
Lord Hood said that Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, therefore, proposed that the three Ambassadors should make a formal demarche advising Chamoun to make a public statement on the election. They would say that we envisaged his role to use his influence in the background rather than in the office of President itself. The first step should be for Chamoun and ourselves to agree upon a successor whom we would all support.
In addition to this political move, Mr. Selwyn Lloyd thought that we should support to the maximum U.N. action in the Lebanon for the purpose of reducing the rebels’ effectiveness while working to strengthen the Government.
Lord Hood said that Mr. Lloyd planned to be in Paris on Sunday and would like to discuss this approach with the French if the Secretary agreed.
The Secretary commented upon the order in which the various matters might best be considered with Chamoun. He thought it important that a decision be made as to the best candidate in lieu of Chamoun, before Chamoun is asked to make a public statement that he would not stand for reelection. The discussion of the successor could be based on Chamoun’s statement to us that he would not seek reelection. The Secretary instructed Mr. Rountree to draft a possible communication which would provide the basis for instructions to Ambassador McClintock. This draft should then be discussed with the British. He said that until we had had further discussions between the U.S. and the U.K., it was difficult to comment upon the wisdom of taking the matter up with the French at this juncture. We should have a better idea on this before Mr. Selwyn Lloyd’s proposed visit to Paris.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/6–2758. Top Secret. Drafted by Rountree on June 28.↩