183. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union1
163010. Subject: Presidential Message to President Brezhnev.
1. Please deliver the following letter from President Reagan to President Brezhnev in response to Brezhnev’s June 10 Molink message.
2. Begin text: Dear Mr. President: I have carefully considered your letter of June 10.2
3. As you know, at my urging the Israeli Government announced June 11 that Israeli forces in Lebanon would observe a ceasefire from 12:00 p.m. that day. Unfortunately, fighting between PLO and Israeli forces continued. My government went, again, to the Israelis urging restraint. This approach resulted in a new Israeli ceasefire—agreed to by the PLO—to go into effect at 9:00 p.m. (Lebanese time) June 12.
4. This decision by the Government of Israel is a constructive step that could result in a halt to the conflict in Lebanon which has raised such grave dangers to peace throughout the region. Obviously, the [Page 581] maintenance of the ceasefire depends upon restraint by all parties to the conflict. I shall continue to use my influence with Israel to that end; I expect that you will urge similar restraint on Syria and the PLO.
5. The ceasefire is only a first step toward a lasting solution of the problems which are at the root of the recent tragic events in Lebanon. My government will continue to work for the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 508 and 509, and the creation of political arrangements which will ensure the independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon under an effective central government. The maintenance of peace will also require that Israel be assured that attacks on its Northern territories originating in Lebanon not be resumed.
6. My personal representative in the area, Ambassador Philip Habib, will continue his contacts with all concerned parties, including the Governments of Israel, Syria, and Lebanon with a view to working out such arrangements. In this connection, I must reject emphatically the suggestion in your letter that Ambassador Habib’s activities in the area have obstructed the search for peace. Indeed, Ambassador Habib has carried out his difficult mission with distinction, and his efforts to assist the parties in the search for peace will continue.
7. I agree with you that polemics should have no place in our exchanges at any time—but particularly during this critical period. However, your letter contains the allegation which has also appeared in the Soviet media that the U.S. Government had been aware of the Israeli attack in advance. This charge is totally without foundation; thus, in keeping with your own view of polemics, it has no appropriate place in communications between us.
8. In closing, I wish to reiterate that my government will continue its energetic efforts to advance the cause of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Sincerely, Ronald Reagan. End text.
- Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC: Head of State File, USSR: General Secretary Brezhnev (8290378, 8290381). Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. In telegram 7204 from Moscow, June 13, Zimmermann reported that a member of the Embassy delivered the letter to Tarasenko at the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs that day. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy Files, N820005–0600)↩
- See Document 180.↩