79. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge), Washington, June 15, 1958, 9:35 a.m.1
I called Ambassador Lodge and reported that we might be under immediate pressure to send forces into Lebanon and wondered what his reaction was as to the impact on the UN. He said he thought it would be very bad, particularly if it were done without giving the UN observers a fair opportunity to get going. I said that the ideal solution would be if the UN observer team or Hammarskjold should ask the US and other UN members to supply some forces. In that event we could respond very promptly. Ambassador Lodge said he expected to see tomorrow Gallo Plazo of Ecuador, one of the three, with Norway and India, designated by Hammarskjold to head the observer team. Ambassador Lodge said he would go to New York today if we thought this important. He said he would await my further telephone call to him.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/6–1558. Top Secret. Drafted by Dulles.↩
- Dulles called Lodge again at noon, following his conversation with the President. Lodge indicated that he planned to return to New York that afternoon. Lodge added that Hammarskjöld told him that he was attempting to arrange for additional military support for the observation team from several non-Middle Eastern countries. (Memorandum of telephone conversation; ibid.; included in the microfiche supplement)↩