Office of the Historian

322. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon1

Washington, September 17, 1958—8:18 p.m.

1273. Embtels 1560,2 1570.3 We note one item in Karame’s program is withdrawal of all US forces by October 15, and have considered [Page 571] your recommendation we make statement regarding voluntary withdrawal US forces in light improvement in security situation. We believe psychologically and politically it would be desirable to take initiative with Lebanese authorities re final withdrawal before we are requested by GOL to remove our forces.4 We would like your urgent comment on following possible arrangement which we might suggest to Lebanese.

Providing it were practicable, all US forces would be withdrawn from Lebanon by October 15 (JCS is sending message to CINCSPECOMME5 referring to proposed timetable contained in his message 072216ZA6 and inquiring what would be CINCSPECOMME’s concept of operations necessary to effect total withdrawal by October 15). As soon as possible after inauguration Chehab and installation new Prime Minister a statement would be issued by these two officials stating that in full consultation with US authorities it had been agreed that all US forces would be out of Lebanon by October 15, and revealing withdrawal timetable. Another possible course might be to have such announcement put out before inauguration Chehab, either by Chamoun and Chehab, or by US as result consultation with Chamoun and Chehab, and to have final withdrawal actually begin before Chehab takes office. In any case, we might wish to issue simultaneous separate announcement in order make clear complete harmony of views between US and Lebanese authorities.

You should take no action re above vis-à-vis Lebanese authorities pending further word from Department but we would like you now to stress Chehab that when decision taken to undertake final withdrawal our forces it is extremely important that withdrawal take place in logical, dignified and orderly fashion. You should tell Chehab that we hope timing to achieve this can be worked out through full consultation between US and Lebanese authorities.

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/9–1758. Top Secret. Drafted by Rockwell and cleared by Berry in NEA, Walmsley in IO, Godley in C, Murphy, and Herter. The JCS was informed. Repeated to USUN.↩
  2. Document 319.↩
  3. In telegram 1570 from Beirut, September 15, the Embassy outlined the program Rachid Karame said he would implement if he became Prime Minister in the new government. (Department of State, Central Files, 683A.86B/9–1558)↩
  4. In a telephone conversation with Herter on September 17, Dulles, who was in New York, stated that he had talked to Hammarskjöld about Lebanon, and the conversation reinforced his conviction that it was important for the United States to have a program for withdrawing from Lebanon so as not to appear to have been pushed out by the United Nations or Chehab. Dulles added that he had discussed the situation with Lloyd. (Memorandum of telephone conversation; ibid., 110.11/9–1758; included in the microfiche supplement) Herter telephoned General Twining after his conversation with Dulles and asked for a practical timetable for withdrawal. (Eisenhower Library, Herter Papers, Telephone Conversations)↩
  5. JCS telegram 948177 to CINCSPECOMME, September 17. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Files; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
  6. Not found.↩