Office of the Historian

91. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tripoli, Libya0

Washington, April 26, 1961, 7:45 p.m.

827. Embtel 847.1 With collapse of insurrection in Algiers immediate danger of insurgent attack on Libya has presumably dissolved. In reply to Prime Minister, however, you may cite Department’s statement to press yesterday (Circular Tel. 1673)2 as evidence US did not intend stand idly by in event such attack. US would view with great concern threat to independence of Libya. Embassy should emphasize that we consider failure of insurrection due to strong, courageous and decisive action by General De Gaulle and support he clearly enjoys not only from bulk French population but within armed forces.

Bowles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/4-2461. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Root, cleared by Brown, and approved by Penfield. As a result of the transfer of the Government of Libya from Benghazi to Tripoli, the Embassy was transferred to Tripoli effective January 25, 1960, with a branch office in Benghazi. Telegraphic traffic between Libya and the Department of State addressed both Tripoli and Benghazi as Embassies.↩
  2. In telegram 847 from Tripoli, April 24, Ambassador John Wesley Jones reported that Libyan Prime Minister Mohammed Othman Al-Said had asked him what the reaction of the U.S. Government would be in the event of a French military attack against Libya from Algeria. (Ibid., 751S.00/4-2461)↩
  3. Circular telegram 1673, April 25, quoted the Department press officer’s April 25 statement that the United States would “become directly concerned should the insurrection spread beyond the borders of Algeria and threaten the peace of the area.” (Ibid., 751S.00/4-2561)↩