370. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon 1
293184. 1. Lebanese Ambassador Kabbani saw DeptyAsstSec Davies (NEA) at noon Sunday to inform USG of Lebanese request for urgent convening of Security Council to hear complaint against Israeli attack on Beirut International Airport.
2. Ambassador sought USG support for a resolution embodying three points: a) a condemnation of the Israeli action, b) compensation for damages and attendant losses, and c) sanctions if Israel does not provide compensation.
3. Ambassador was informed USG extremely disturbed by Israeli action and would take Lebanese request into consideration in developing its position.
4. In ensuing discussion, Ambassador rebutted Israeli charges of GOL complicity in terrorist actions and noted: a) Lebanese press completely free and Government cannot prevent publication communiqués of Palestine Liberation Organizations; b) baggage of embarking passengers customarily not subject to customs inspections at Beirut Airport; c) there is absolutely no evidence that sabotage material used in Athens was in fact carried from Beirut by the two men involved in the attack against Israeli plane; d) Front for Liberation of Palestine states two terrorists involved only transited through Beirut from occupied Palestine; e) the GOL has done its utmost to prevent attacks against Israel from being launched from Lebanese territory; and f) it is not true that PFLOP headquarters are in Beirut as it is untrue that there are training camps for terrorists in Lebanon.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27 ARAB-ISR. Confidential. Drafted by Davies, cleared by Hart, and approved by Davies. Also sent to Tel Aviv, Amman, Cairo, Jidda, Kuwait, Aden,Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat, London, Paris, Athens, Ankara, Tehran, Nicosia, Dhahran, Jerusalem, Khartoum, and USUN.↩