April 9th 1952

A diplomatic mission from Rome arrived in Lebanon prospecting towards the building of ties with the establishment of the modern Lebanese state. The economic opening of Lebanon points to a suitable environment for investment by Italian firms. Thus representatives from Italian industrial magnates and business leaders have agreed to pledge a total of $75,000,000 in private investments toward the following sectors:

• Jewelry
• Artisan Craftsmanship
• Luxury goods
• Consumer goods
• Fruit
• Foodstuffs
• Petrochemicals
• Expansion of the Beirut harbor, sale of cranes, and storage expansion

In a more sensitive meeting involving the Director of SISM Ettore Bastico and the Lebanese Armed Forces/Intelligence services an information sharing agreement was done to build a SISM black site where to conduct operations both within Lebanon and the wider Middle East, obstensibly to help the government fend off subversive attacks, help gather intelligence and establish a listening post and network of agents to eavesdrop on Lebanon's neighbors, in particular, the Israelis but also Syria. A radar station, obstensivly controlled by the Italian Air Force will be built in Mt. Lebanon and would provide early warning. Information will be fed to the Lebanese authorities as part of the deal.