LEBANON: Anti-U.S.manship

It used to be that only the identifiable anti-Americans turned on the U.S. Now the anti-American cry is being taken up by those who fear to be regarded as too friendly to the U.S. Last week, faced with mounting pro-Nasserism and growing opposition to President Camille Chamoun's drive to push through a constitutional amendment that would enable him to run for a second term, the pro-Western government of tiny Lebanon turned on the U.S. with biting acerbity.

The $38 million that the U.S. has given in nonmilitary aid since 1952, huffed the government, is hardly worth mentioning. Lebanon demanded that Washington 1) give Lebanon $170 million over the next six years and 2) remove the condition that Lebanon pay 50% of all aid projects. "If the American government rejects these terms," snapped Public Works Minister Khalil Hibri, "this government will not hesitate to reject all American aid."

The U.S. Government had not the faintest intention of giving Lebanon such sums—but still hadn't the Lebanese government, onetime ardent supporter of the Eisenhower Doctrine, now proved to all and sundry how independent of Washington it really is?

The power of the real anti-Americans was made clear in the Lebanese seaport of Tripoli. There a mob, demonstrating against the assassination of a pro-Nasser editor, ran amuck, burned the USIA library. Before the riot was over, some 15 were dead, another 30 wounded.