FORD DROPS TRIP, CITING LEBANON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100030075-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2007
• Sequence Number: 75
• Publication Date: June 19, 1976
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

ARTICLE APPEARED Approved For Release 2007/06/14: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100030075-9 STAT
ON PAGE 1 19 JUNE 1976
States Government had been
reluctant to participate.
certainty of the situation. W. At a press~briefing, Robert L.l
FORD IIRUPS TRAP, Beirut, d have directed theFunseth, the State Department
United States Embassy there Lolspokesman, said that Ambas-i
assist in the departure by-over1'ador Meloy's last cablegram to,
land convoy to Damascus o- Washington before he was;
CI1I6 LEBANON U.S. citizens who wish to de t died is an ambush "ion
Lebanon at this time." 1Atnerican particippation in that
? t part tconvoy,"
He added: "The convoy is ex "Sadly his remains went out
petted to leave BeirutSaturday,'in the first British convoys
`Cancels 'Campaign Journey, and American citizens are. being; yesterday," Mr.:Funseth added.;
alerted both by the embassy, yesterday Mr. Kissinger told
After Ordering Help for and by broadcast on the VoiceCongress that Ambass`adori
Those Leaving Beirut of America to be preparedfor!Meloy was on his way to dis-
t
d
By DAVID BINDER
Special to The New York T1my
WASHINGTON, June 18 -
President Ford canceled an elec-
tion campaign trip to Iowa to-
1d Ay after having directed the
,United States Embassy in Beirut
,to assist American citizens who
wanted to leave Lebanon.
Ron Nessen, the White House
spokesman, said that the Iowa
trip had been called off "be-
cause of the impending evacua-
tion and the situation in Leb-
anon."
In a personal statement on
Lebanon, Mr. Ford avoided the
word "evacuation" with regard
j to, the estimated total of 1,400
American citizens still in the
country.
The President had been
scheduled to attend a testi-
monial dinner in Des Moines
for Mary Louise Smith, the
'Republican Party's national
chairman, before the selection
of Iowa's delegates to the Re-
publican National Convention.
Surprise is Expressed
Some State Department of-
ficials privately expressed sur-
prise at the President's abrupt
change .of plans. White House
officials, however, credited Mr.
Ford with having put policy
ahead of politics.
At the State Department to-
day, Secretary of State Henry
'A. Kissinger told reporters that
it was appropriate for Mr. Ford
eparture at tat tune .
l'ylcuss the convoy proposals With
so wish.' dent-elect, when he was kid-
; Convoy Goes to Damascus !napped and killed.
According to word from the, The Administration
scene, a 13-vehicle convoy or-;said that the killing had. en-
1ganized by the British Etrtbassy'couraged the British to proceed
and including some Americanswith the, convoy arrangements
traveled from -Beirat to DamHand that last night, at a White
ascus today Tomorrow's con-!House meeting with his national
voy, also to Damascus, is alsa&security. advisers, President
!being organized by the British. Ford concluded that-the United
Early today a news agency,States had no choice but to fol-,
dispatch from Washington saidliow suit.
that President Ford had direct- In his statement. this morn-
led the embassy in Beirut toting, Mr. Ford emphasized again
evacute Americans from Leban-;that the United States Embassy
on. Later ward,, however,lin Beirut would remain open,
showed that he had not goneiand active. He said: "Only;
1 that far and. that few Ameri-!those embassy officials not es-I
cans wanted to leave anyway.Isential to our continuing opera-,
The word "evacuation" was tions will be leaving Lebanon
used in public by Mr. htssii ger;fe American Embassy in Beirut
'when he testified yesterday be-is to remain open to continuer
fore the House International our efforts to help brim an end.
Relations Committee on theito the strife which has brought;
!Lebanese situation after the this tragedy to Lebanon." .
killing Wednesday of Ambassa ` Ford Confers Again
don Francis, E:" Meloy Jr. and' 'At the State Department. Mrc.,
two of his aides in Beirut. Funseth said that the admin-1
t Since then some high-ranking iituation had received "assur
Administration officials I ace'ances of safe conduct" for the:
advised against using the word, Saturd'ay convoy, but he de-
since it. seemed to imply the in-,dined , to elaborate because
volvement of military rescue"the operation is a sensitive
!teams, as in the evacuation of'one.'
Americans from. Cambodia and? While acknbwledeinu that it
South Vietnam during the Coln was a British initiative andi
munist victories there., `would he conducted by the
Contingency. Plannin Brittish Embassy in Beirut. Mr.
t~ !Funseth said:
According to these officials. "I think it is an international
both Britain and the Unitedlconvoy.'It is not a question of
,States had for some time been-`tagging along.
weighing contingency plans for;. Apparently President Ford
organizing large-scale depart'-!has ordered the Defense De-
lures of Western citizens frominartment=to keep an eye on`the
.Lebanon. 1convov Saturday, by radio and
They said that the British'possibly by aerial reconnais-.
pressed ahead at the beginning!sance. But Administration offi-+
!of this week in obtaining prom-!vials declined to discuss such`
vises of safe passage for several !measures.
convoys of buses, cars and taxis; President Ford' conferred on 1
to Syria but' that the United'Lebanon for more than an hour!
to remain in Washington be
!cause the Lebanese situation;
'had become "very ticklish" and
"an emergency could develop" I
in the evacuation.
Today's statement by the
President said:
"Due to the continuing un-
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ebanon: Others are, from lest. Gear. George S. Brown,' Chair:nati of the served as special envoy w'Leoarea, Secretary of State Henry "A Kis ii +
this. morning with Mr. "Kis. scheduled a fourth. round. forltremely decliate."
singer.. George Bush, director, this:?. evening to oversee"- I Mr. Ford pianft to." be all
of Central Intelligence; Brent ILebanese -developments-includ- Andrews Air Force -.Base, justi
Scowcroft;' -national" security in", the evacuation,' accord-least of the capital,:' tomorrow!
;adviser;. William Clements, mg to Mr. Nessen.,. rafternoon when the- bodies of*
Deputy Secretary of Defense; The spokesman said. that lie Ambassador Meloy "end 'the
and Richard B.' Cheney,, White was "astounded' at suggestions Beirut Embassy ecbnoi1ic coup -
House chief. of staff. Jof -reporters that it was:;-'-'a selor, -Robert', O:`: Waring; ar,
It was the third "such .`meet- trumped-up. crisis and termed Ave here on a military; plane
ing in three. days, and Mr: Fordlthe Lebanese situation =`ea fi?Om the Middle east rx "
Approved For Release 2007/06/14: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100030075-9