Office of the Historian

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

Washington, June 16, 1967, 11:41 a.m.

211679. Ref: Tripoli 147.2 Same request has been made previously of concessionnaires by governments Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Dept has received representations from Aramco, Mobil and Gulf Oil, which companies said they were making in order be able report back that cos did communicate with USG in compliance with requests those govts.

Agree that you should not seek out cos to forewarn them; however some co managers (Esso and Mobil particularly) may anticipate the purpose of the Muusa mtg and request your advice prior to call on Minister. If they do you should advise them their response to a demand to pressure USG to support Arab position should be that they can undertake only to report substance of conversation with GOL to the USG. Cos, however, should emphasize to GOL that oil industry does not determine USG foreign policy.

In the event cos approach Emb after Muusa mtg you should merely advise them to inform the GOL that its views were presented to USG.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Central Files, 1967–69, PET 6 LIBYA. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Oliver on June 16 and cleared by Held (NEA), Post (AFN), and Oliver. Repeated to Paris, London, Kuwait, Jidda, and Dhahran.↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 243.↩