Office of the Historian

326. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan1

Washington, June 17, 1985

1. Tunisia: Discussion with Foreign Minister Essebsi. In my conversation with Essebsi, he appealed for our comprehension of Tunisia’s difficult economic circumstances and an increase in assistance levels.2 I expressed our understanding of the issues, but noted that we cannot commit ourselves to increased levels at this time. Essebsi termed Libya a real and present threat to Tunisia, and noted that the existence of training camps in Libya for subversives is of special concern to Tunisia. Tunisia is not happy with the Moroccan-Libyan treaty of union, and I told him we also see this as a negative development and, while not overreacting, we have made our views clear to the Moroccans. Essebsi expressed mild optimism about the Middle East peace process. I briefed him on the state of play and urged Tunisian support for King Hussein. With regard to the hijacking,3 Essebsi said that he would send a supportive message to Nabih Barri and others in Lebanon as soon as possible and was confident that President Bourguiba would also contact President Gemayal on the problem. I then suggested he might even call Barri to urge the earliest possible release of the remaining hostages. Essebsi said he would attempt to do so immediately after our meeting. Tunisian Ambassador Ben Yahia subsequently called the Department4 to report that Foreign Minister Essebsi and Mrs. Bourguiba “have done their duty . . .” He was not sure whether this meant that they had succeeded in talking to Barri and/or Gemayal. (C)

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Tunisia.]

  1. Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, President’s Evening Reading, April–June 1985. Confidential.↩
  2. No other record of the Shultz-Essebsi meeting has been found.↩
  3. See footnote 2, Document 150.↩
  4. No record of the Ben Yahia call has been found.↩