114. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter1
[Omitted here is material unrelated to Libya.]
3. Libya. Charge William Eagleton met today with the head of Libya’s Foreign Mission Liaison Office, Ahmed Shahati. While the meeting was cordial, it contained nothing beyond the general assurances on security that the Embassy has been receiving regularly since before the December 2 attack. Authoritative word on Libya’s position will have to come directly from Col. Qadhafi himself. Libyan People’s Bureau Head Ali El-Houderi is now en route to Washington with a message for you from Qadhafi, which may give us a clearer understanding of where US-Libyan relations are headed.2
[Omitted here is material unrelated to Libya.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 22, Evening Reports (State): 12/79. Secret. Carter initialed and wrote “Warren” in the upper right-hand corner.↩
- See Document 117. Carter wrote in the left-hand margin: “NY Times interview interesting, somewhat misleading.” In the interview, published in the December 11 issue, Qadhafi said that he wanted to improve relations with the United States. (Youssef M. Ibrahim, “Libyan Leader Sets Aside Threats To Curtail Oil Exports to the U.S.,” New York Times, December 11, 1979, p. A1) In telegram 1894 from Tripoli, December 11, the Embassy transmitted a full transcript of the interview. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790570–0590)↩