800.00 Summaries/11–449: Circular telegram

The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Offices 1

secret

Infotel. We have informed Amb Jessup at UN and Amb Douglas in London that we believe that amendments which were worked out between UK and US dels Nov 3 wld enable British conclude treaty with independent Cyrenaica almost immediately. We believe these amendments wld allow reps of people of Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan decide on form of their future union and govt before date on which independence becomes effective but that they will not prevent British from making prompt arrangements with respect their needs in Cyrenaica. We further believe that since these amendments do not change UN machinery provided for in Subcomite res, there is good chance GA can be persuaded approve revised text of Libyan res. Therefore we have instructed Ambs Jessup and Douglas to inform UK del and UK FonOff respectively that we will not raise any objection to British making necessary arrangements with Emir of Cyrenaica within reasonable time after GA adopts res with amendments that we have worked out with UK del. Our support of British in GA and during period prior Libyan independence is based on assumption that British govt will give full support to amend Libyan res and make every effort secure disposition of Itcol problem at this GA. Furthermore, we wld expect British administration continue in Tripolitania as long as required under GA res and assist us in providing for our common security interest in that region.

Acheson
  1. Sent to the diplomatic or consular offices at Moscow, Paris, Rome, and Tripoli.