President Reagan declared today that the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut has left him more determined to ensure that Lebanon becomes a “free and safe country again.”
The President’s statement was made during a telephone conversation this morning with the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Robert Dillon, according to White House deputy press secretary Larry Speakes. “This tragedy, however awful, must not distract us from our search for peace in Lebanon and elsewhere,” the President was quoted as telling Dillon.
Reagan, praising Dillon for his “devotion to duty,” added: “Please let everyone know we will never give in to this cowardly incident. I am determined now more than ever to ensure that we do whatever is necessary to make Lebanon a free and safe country.”
Speakes’ account of the President’s telephone conversation came as he announced that Reagan had named Lawrence Eagleburger, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, as head of a delegation to go to Beirut and bring back the remains of the Americans killed in the bombing. The latest report is 10 Americans dead and 6 missing, according to Speakes.
Dillon reported that 49 American and Lebanese were killed or missing and presumed dead.
The delegation will leave tomorrow but no return date has been set as of yet. Speakes indicated that Reagan would meet the returning party. The President today also ordered that all U.S. flags at government installations in the United States and abroad be flown at half mast through Tuesday.
NO DETERMINATION ON SHULTZ
The President has not yet made a determination on whether to send Secretary of State George Shultz to the Middle East, Speakes said. There had been reports that Shultz might go as early as this week.
But Speakes said the delegation will meet with members of Lebanese President Amin Gemayel’s government, “the courageous men and women both Lebanese and American of the Embassy staff” and members of the Marine Corps serving with the multinational force in Beirut.
“The visit by this high level delegation will also serve to underscore the depth of our gratitude to and admiration for the brave members of Lebanon’s internal security force and military services, some of whom gave their lives in protecting our diplomatic mission,” Speakes said.
He denied the U.S. had any time since the bombing criticized the Lebanese for being “lax” in their security around the Embassy. He stressed that the Lebanese government “has done whatever possible to ensure security.”
Asked about the Israeli statement that the bombing underscores Israel’s concerns about security in south Lebanon, Speakes would only say that there has “been no change in the U.S. position” and there is “a need for all foreign forces to be withdrawn as soon as possible.”
He stressed that the U.S. would have no official comment on who caused the bombing or how it occurred until the completion of the investigation now being conducted by the Lebanese government.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
