Office of the Historian

83. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Libya1

Washington, June 2, 1967, 5:54 p.m.

207217. Ref: Tripoli 4108;2 Cairo 8365;3 Baida 567;4 Tripoli 4105.5 In further conversations with Ghannai and senior GOL officials, you may draw on following with respect current concern over Wheelus:

1.
USG appreciates cooperation GOL officials in present tense circumstances and desires to cooperate to fullest in reassuring Libyans that US facility in no way being utilized against Arab interest.
2.
Ambassador Newsom has brought to attention senior Air Force officials in Washington Ghannai’s concern over night transit and exercises. Air Force has assured Ambassador that in accordance our normal practice GOL will be advised of any unusual activities and night activity will be reduced to minimum. Some night activity necessary in view regular schedules of military transport planes in accordance normal procedures and necessary exercises and night flying training.
3.
Embassy has in past indicated willingness arrange visits Ghannai or others to Wheelus at any time. This invitation remains open.
4.
US continues stand by Article XII of Base Agreement.
5.
USAF sending separate messages USAFE re above.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 15 LIBYA–US. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Newsom; cleared by Hilbert of USAF, Wolf in G/PM, Root, Bergus in NEA/UAR, Colonel Kennedy in DOD/ISA, Neuman in L/AF, and the NE Task Force; and approved by Trimble. Also sent to Baida and repeated to Benghazi, Cairo, CINCEUR, and CINCUSAFE.↩
  2. Telegram 4108 from Tripoli, June 1, reported that Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Al-Ghannai had told the Embassy that he had received information that Hercules 130 planes had been observed departing from Wheelus, and had pointed out that such movements were subject to misinterpretation by the Libyan public and “other non-Libyans who are watching Wheelus movements very closely.” (Ibid.)”↩
  3. Dated June 2. (Ibid., POL ARAB–ISR)↩
  4. Dated June 1. (Ibid., DEF 15 LIBYA–US)↩
  5. Telegram 4105 from Tripoli, June 1, commented that Ghannai’s request that officials at Wheelus exercise discretion and avoid activities that might be used as proof that the base was being used to supply Israel reinforced the need for an increase in the effort that Embassy and base authorities had been making to decrease the visibility of the base and its operations. (Ibid.)↩