Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Lebanon and Jordan, Volume XI

356. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State¹

Beirut, October 16, 1958—5 p.m.

1983. Since formation of new government reported Embassy telegram 1966² I have made separate calls on President Chehab and on each of the new ministers.

Recalling prediction he had made as outlined last paragraph Embassy telegram 1931,³Chehab said on Saturday night he had given Moslem opposition an ultimatum that if they did not consent to some reasonable solution of crisis he would resign as President of Lebanon. Chehab intimated he had been equally firm with Christian Loyalists. He expressed great vexation at attitude of Jumblat and spoke with some irony of Druze chieftain’s pretension to be a spiritual leader, whereas in reality all he wanted was a ministerial portfolio for himself. Chehab said final compromise reached at one a.m. yesterday excluded many confessional factions but did give justice to main division of Lebanon between Islam and Christianity. He was optimistic that new government would be able to get on with its job.

Foreign Minister Hussein Oueini (who was visibly pleased that US Ambassador was first of diplomatic corps to call on him) was exceedingly cordial and made pleasant sounds of his willingness to settle any problems which might come up between Lebanon and US on a basis of trust and friendship. He did, however, put in a plug for Nasser, expressing hope US–Nasser relations would improve; and likewise stated that if US could contribute to rapid and just solution of Palestine refugee problem this would do more than anything to improve US relations with “50 million Arabs”.

Rashid Karami told me this morning country is rapidly returning to a peace-time basis. His reports from Tripoli, Saida, Tyre and Bekaa all confirmed that security situation is calm. Like his colleagues, he expressed optimism and pleased surprise at almost magical change in atmosphere of Beirut.

Conversation with Raymond Edde is reported Embassy telegram 1980.⁴ In addition, he is arranging for various elements of our official family to deal on a working level with opposite numbers in various ministries in order to prevent clogging at top of such over-burdened ministers as Rashid Karami who has important portfolios of Defense, Finance and Economic Affairs in addition to Information.

Pierre Gemayel tells me he thinks tomorrow’s vote of confidence in Parliament will be almost unanimous,⁵ with possible abstention or negative vote of solitary PPS deputy. Gemayel said practically every leader of Moslem opposition had personally telephoned him to express congratulations and good wishes for success of new government. Somewhat to his surprise, Gemayel said he seemed popular hero in the Basta.

Uniformly I found among new ministers a repeated request for US moral support. They seemed more interested in this type of backing than in more concrete manifestations of aid; but I do not doubt that requests for financial and economic assistance will be forthcoming.

McClintock

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/10–1658. Secret. Repeated to Amman, Ankara, Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, London, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv, and USUN.
2. In telegram 1966 from Beirut, October 15, the Embassy reported that Chehab had formed a new cabinet consisting of Rashid Karame as Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense, Finance, Economy, and Information; Hussein Oueini as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Planning; Raymond Edde as Minister of Interior and Social Affairs; and Pierre Gemayel as Minister of Public Works, Education, Agriculture, and Health. Karame and Oueini were Sunni Moslems and Gemayel and Edde were Maronite Christians. Following the announcement of the establishment of the cabinet, the Phalange issued a statement calling off their strike, and an impending trade union strike was also cancelled. The Embassy reported that the cabinet was being popularly referred to in Lebanon as the “cabinet of salvation.” (Ibid., 783A.00/10–1558)
3. Document 350.
4. Telegram 1980 from Beirut, October 16, reported on a conversation among McClintock, Chehab, and Edde concerning the security situation in Lebanon. McClintock noted that both men gave evidence of “renewed vim and determination” to restore Lebanon to normal within a matter of days. (Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/10–1658; included in the microfiche supplement)
5. In telegram 1992 from Beirut, October 17, the Embassy reported that the new Karame cabinet received a unanimous vote of confidence in Parliament that morning. (Department of State, Central Files, 783A.13/10–1758)