104. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Benghazi, Libya0
23. Re Baida’s 11 and 13.1 Dept concerned by report harmfully inaccurate public statement by Libyan Minister Abaidi concerning amount and form of US aid to Libya since 1960. Believe you should raise matter with Prime Minister Fekini at next opportunity, stressing effect in this country, as Fekini should be well aware, of foreign high level official statements which misrepresent US assistance. You should reiterate (Baida’s 13) that in considering aid requests US must recognize fact Libya’s increased oil revenues.
Dept recalls Fekini’s aid discussions with ambassador were couched in broad terms (Fredericks-Fekini memcon Jan. 15, 1963). You [Page 156] might remind Fekini that total US aid to Libya during his ambassadorship 1958-63 was over $110 million.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, AID (US) LIBYA. Limited Official Use. Drafted by McClanahan, cleared by Walker, and approved by Witman. Repeated to Tripoli.↩
- Telegram 11 from Baida, July 24, reported that Minister of Development and Planning Abaidi had told the Libyan Senate on July 21 that the United States had given Libya no material assistance in cash or in kind since the dissolution of joint services late in 1960, although leftover funds had been handed over to the Libyan Government for completion of joint services projects, and the United States had provided assistance through experts attached to various government ministries. (Ibid.) In telegram 13 from Baida, July 24, Lightner wrote that he had talked to the Prime Minister about Abaidi’s statement and Libya’s probable requests for further U.S. economic assistance. (Ibid.)↩