107. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tripoli, Libya0
133. Tripoli’s 108.1 Prime Minister Fekini met with President Kennedy September 30.2 Following highlights from uncleared memcon are subject to review and should not be discussed with foreign governments:
President welcomed Fekini, who replied he brought friendly greeting from King and Crown Prince. After brief mention Fekini’s recent trip Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, President inquired about situation in Libya. Fekini said public opinion had favored more unified organization of government and so his government had amended constitution to bring this about. His government had also worked out new 5-year plan and hoped US would help in realizing this plan. Plan was key to stability in Libya, and Libya was counting on US.
President described heavy aid cuts being made by Congress and great difficulties this created for US. We were nonetheless trying to do what we could. But with all its oil resources Libya’s position should be extremely good on its own.
Fekini replied that oil revenue would be main support of Plan, but real problem would be in first 2 or 3 years before most oil revenues came in. Fekini said US had special relationship with Libya, for example, one of our most important military bases is there, and Libya had problem with such bases.
President said had noted press attacks on base, but base was important to stability of area and kind of guarantee of Libya’s continued independence and stability. Thus it was best to try damp down press attacks and not make Wheelus great dominant political issue.
Fekini acknowledged Wheelus not at present big political issue, but remarked US effort to help Libya substantially would serve to remove base issue from domestic political arena.
President emphasized burden our global commitments many of which were of indirect benefit to Libya. Libya, like Saudi Arabia, will be target for other countries because of its oil wealth. US would do its best but couldn’t do all Libya wanted. President urged Fekini use his influence [Page 160] explain to Libyan people Wheelus helpful to Libyan stability and an asset to Libya. Then when Libya wanted us to leave we would. But if we’re told we must either contribute to development plan or lose base, we’d leave.
Fekini later said he had spoken frankly because it not easy task to defend base. Only one million dollars rent did not look very great even though there was other aid.
President replied Libya had only 1.25 million people yet GOL receiving over $60 million from oil revenues this year, probably $100 million next and perhaps as much as $300 million within few years. We appreciated Libya’s situation and its needs, but such oil revenues obviously a major asset.
Fekini mentioned that US allowing Libya use small part of base to train Libyan Air Force, which US was supporting. Sharing of base was good, and if we could go further toward joint use it would help. President agreed this would be useful.
Conversation concluded with comments by Fekini and President concerning need for caution in viewing prospects for detente in relations with Soviets.
After their conversation President invited Fekini to attend swearing in of new Postmaster General, and Fekini there met several members of Cabinet. Later President accompanied Fekini to President’s outer office and shook hands with officers of Libyan Embassy. President sent greetings through Fekini to King and Crown Prince and suggested Fekini write to him directly if he wished on matters of mutual interest.
President had sent presidential Air Force aircraft bring Fekini from New York and return him there. Governor Harriman met Fekini at Washington airport. Governor Williams present at meeting with President and accompanied Fekini to Washington airport. Fekini brought from New York private secretary Ali Abu Suwayl and Police Major Tahir Rahuma. Ben Gileil, counselor of Embassy, only Libyan with Fekini during meeting with President.
Only press notice observed here was New York Times October 1 reference in record of President’s September 30 activities. Agence France Presse (AFP) ticker datelined Washington September 30 reported Fekini had meeting of about an hour with President Kennedy and “two statesmen reviewed international situation and discussed problems of mutual interest.” AFP quotes Fekini as terming conversation “very interesting” and adding “I hope that it will contribute to consolidating friendly relations which I am happy to say already exist between our two countries.”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 LIBYA. Secret; Priority. Drafted by McClanahan; cleared by Newsom, Walker, McKesson, Junkermann (DOD), Komer, and Warren; and approved by Williams. Repeated to Benghazi.↩
- In telegram 108 from Tripoli, October 3, Lightner reported that he planned to talk to Fekini “within the next few days at which time it would be helpful have some indication of substance of Washington talks.” (Ibid.)↩
- A memorandum of this conversation is ibid., POL LIBYA-US.3↩