Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVII, Part 3, North Africa

120. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter¹

Washington, January 14, 1980

SUBJECT

• Message to Qadhafi (U)

Attached at Tab A is a proposed message to be delivered by Charge Eagleton to Col. Qadhafi.² Eagleton is scheduled to return to Tripoli in the near future. The purpose of the message is twofold: (1) to provide a substantive response to Qadhafi and keep the dialogue alive; and (2) to provide a lever to insure that our Charge in Tripoli gets comparable high level reception as that accorded to Qadhafi’s emissary in Washington. (S)

RECOMMENDATION:

That you approve the proposed message at Tab A. (State concurs).³

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 13, Libya: Secretary General Mu’ammar Qadhafi, 3/77–1/80. Secret. Sent for action.
2. Not attached.
3. Carter checked the Disapprove option and wrote: “Reassess, following Khadhafi’s urging ‛Americans’ to take over our embassy. J.”