117. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, July 7, 1958, 2:25 p.m.1
The Secretary
NEA–William M. Rountree
Mr. Hammarskjold
The Secretary’s memorandum of July 72 summarizes his luncheon conversation with Mr. Hammarskjold, at which Mr. Lodge was present. When the Secretary and Mr. Hammarskjold adjourned to the Secretary’s office, Mr. Rountree joined them.
The Secretary repeated for Mr. Rountree’s benefit the Secretary General’s suggestion of a semi-permanent U.N. group of observers in the Lebanon which would note and report on any intrusion from without on the independence and integrity of Lebanon. In reply to the Secretary’s request for his comments, Mr. Rountree expressed the view that this was an interesting idea that might be given careful thought. However, it would appear practicable only after the present crisis had been overcome since the plan assumed the reduction in the number of U.N. observers whereas the present tendency, particularly among the Lebanese, was to believe that the group should be considerably expanded. If there were a satisfactory political solution to the problem and order were restored, it was possible that the Lebanese Government would see in the proposal an opportunity to enhance Lebanese security. On the other hand, it was possible that the Lebanese Government in power at the time would consider acceptance of the proposal an enfringement upon Lebanese sovereignty. Although the matter was discussed further, no conclusion was reached. The Secretary asked Mr. Hammarskjold whether he had discussed this matter with others, and Mr. Hammarskjold replied that he had mentioned it only to Ralph Bunche. He thought that if it should later be decided to proceed with the plan, it was important that it come either from himself or a representative of one of the smaller and relatively disinterested countries, such as Mr. Engen of Norway.
In discussing the situation generally, Mr. Hammarskjold expressed the view that Nasser had been reluctant to become involved in the Lebanese affair and had done so only at the insistence of the Syrians, who had taken the lead in any assistance which had been given to the Lebanese rebels. He expressed the view that Nasser was in the position of feeling compelled to move aggressively either on the external political front or with large scale economic development. He thought Nasser preferred the latter, and hoped that in the future he would pursue that course. The Secretary and Mr. Hammarskjold discussed in general terms the problems of Egyptian-Syrian relations.