Office of the Historian

80. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Palmer) to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Mann)1

Washington, April 25, 1966.

SUBJECT

  • Libya: Reply to Letter from Ambassador Newsom on Assistance

Ambassador Newsom has written you inviting your attention to the problem of providing technical and advisory assistance to Libya in the absence of an AID program. (Tab B)2 This is a longstanding question, with which Ambassador Newsom dealt during his assignment as Director of the Office of Northern African Affairs, which preceded his appointment as Ambassador to Libya. He continues to believe, after seven months at the post, that we should reverse the decline in American advisory and technical assistance to Libya (although not necessarily by reestablishing an AID program) on grounds of U.S. political, economic, commercial and strategic interests.

We are planning to take up this question in the IRG and are preparing our case. Accordingly, we recommend an interim reply to the Ambassador, expressing your continuing personal interest. We will provide you with copies of relevant documents as this proceeds toward resolution in the IRG or otherwise, as well as a follow-up letter for your signature if this is indicated.

Recommendation

That you sign the attached interim reply. (Tab A)3

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15 LIBYA. Confidential. Drafted by Campbell.↩
  2. Attached but not printed.↩
  3. Attached but not printed. Mann signed the letter on April 28 and it was pouched to the Embassy in Tripoli on May 3.↩