Enclosed is a copy of an information memorandum to the Secretary prepared
by the bureau of African Affairs.
Enclosure
Information Memorandum Prepared in the Bureau of African Affairs,
Department of State, for Secretary of State Rogers
Washington,
undated
SUBJECT:
- Wheelus Air Force Base Closure
[Page 2]
On June 11 the U.S. formally turned over Wheelus Air Force Base to
the Libyan Government after an uninterrupted U.S. presence there
since World War II. Following a simple ceremony that was attended by
Acting Prime Minister Jaluud and Ambassador Palmer, the Wheelus Commander
transferred command to the Libyan Air Force and the last 48 USAF personnel remaining at Wheelus
departed for Germany.
Under the Wheelus Agreement all permanent constructions reverted to
the Libyan Government without compensation. This property cost $77
million at initial construction and is currently valued at $43
million after depreciation. During the withdrawal the USAF removed to other USAF installations equipment valued at
$21 million and sold about $900,000 worth of non-critical equipment
and $750,000 worth of aircraft fuel to the Libyan Government for
which full payment has been received. Over 4,000 airmen and
dependents were also withdrawn. Previous Wheelus functions (as a
weapons and gunnery training facility for USAF Europe-based tactical aircraft) have now been
transferred to bases in Europe, chiefly in Spain and Turkey.
The LARG has apparently renamed
Wheelus “Ukba ibn Nafia”, after the 7th century Arab conqueror of
North Africa (who also expelled the Christians from there). The
LARG has not revealed its
intended use of Wheelus other than to declare that it will be used
“to defend Arabism and humanity”. It has repeatedly denied that it
would allow control of former U.S. and U.K. bases to pass to
“foreigners”.
[Page 3]
The Libyan Air Force still maintains its headquarters at Wheelus and
we expect that French technicians may work there in connection with
the new Mirage deliveries expected later in 1970.
The Wheelus withdrawal has been accomplished over the last six months
with full Libyan cooperation. The event itself passed without
incident or significant adverse publicity in Libya or the Middle
East. The LARG is, however,
planning ten days of celebrations later in the month and the
possibility exists that delegations from other Arab countries,
notably the UAR and Sudan, will be invited to participate.
Negotiations between the Libyans and ourselves are scheduled to
begin June 13, on a series of complicated issues connected with our
withdrawal from Wheelus. These include termination of the Wheelus
Base Agreement, the Economic Assistance Agreement (under which we
paid for use of Wheelus) and possibly of the termination at LARG request of our MAAG Agreement.
