Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVII, Near East, 1961–1962

162. Telegram From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State⁰

Beirut, January 13, 1962, 4 p.m.

681. Rome for Rood. Noting that allegations of foreign involvement in recent coup attempt are being widely circulated outside Lebanon, Embassy hopes following observations may help set matters in perspective for addressee posts:

1. To date no credible evidence has been produced by GOL, at least publicly, implicating any foreign power. It highly doubtful that any foreign power was involved.

2. Coup attempt probably was mounted by very small coterie of dissident junior army officers and certain elements in PPS. In this unholy alliance each faction probably expected much more help from the other than actually developed or was possible. They may also have counted on sympathies of other “outs” such as Chamounists.

3. Given widespread popularity and respect which Chehab still commands in Lebanon, coup attempt was so foolhardy and surprising many Lebanese leaped to conclusion it would not have been mounted without foreign backing. This conclusion: A) is, of course, sop for anything that goes wrong in an Arab country; and B) was facilitated by fact that following secession of Syria from UAR there has been much talk of some sort of fertile crescent arrangement, a concept commonly believed here to be the goal of King Hussein and British.

4. Enemies of PPS such as GOL Interior Minister Jumblatt through press and public pronouncements fanned flames of suspicion of foreign involvement. Communists have also been jubilantly exploiting situation. Peak was reached when prominent newspaper L’Orient printed report that GOL was on verge of registering complaint before UN Security Council. Two powers most frequently mentioned as being implicated were Britain and Jordan.

5. Karame and other GOL officials publicly stated L’Orient report “premature.” British Embassy publicly repudiated Jumblatt’s allegations re movement of British ships by noting no British warship within 500 miles.

6. Presumably at this stage GOL Foreign Ministry probably in order to protect itself within government circles sent messages its diplomats asking for any evidence of foreign involvement. While query probably not based on any real grounds for believing such involvement occurred several Lebanese diplomats abroad apparently excitedly took it to mean that GOL in Beirut believes stories.

7. Although suspicions by no means erased from Lebanese public mind and concern re possible British involvement no doubt still lurks in minds of numerous GOL officials, there has been during past few days less public mention re foreign involvement. Most GOL spokesmen and press now saying conclusions re this matter must obviously await results of interrogations, including that of Captain Khayralla, one of junior officer Gebel leaders who captured two days ago. Intense internal security measures continuing in Beirut area.

8. At present time most GOL officials with whom we have been in contact including Chehab and Takla give appearance of being relatively relaxed on foreign involvement question. A conjecture often heard is that probably no foreign governments themselves involved but undoubtedly some nationals of certain neighboring countries were privy to coup plans, e.g. Syrians, Jordanians, Iraqis or Palestinians. Referring to report that 90 Turkish “Commandos” were picked up by police while trying to infiltrate Lebanon’s northern border, Emile Boustani in conversation with Assistant Secretary Coombs and me last evening made inevitable suggestion that Israel may have been behind whole plot.

9. In our private conversations when suggestions have been made re possible USG involvement, we have: A) categorically rejected that USG interferes in Lebanon’s internal affairs; B) shown how ridiculous such allegations are by asking what conceivable gain would accrue to US from upset of President Chehab’s highly respected government; and C) noted that such allegations benefit only those who seek to undermine Lebanon’s independence, e.g. Communists.

UK Ambassador concurs with all of foregoing.

Meyer

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 783A.00/1–1362. Confidential. Also sent to Amman, Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Ankara, Jidda, London, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv, and Tehran.