Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa

Libya

91. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tripoli, Libya

Washington, April 26, 1961, 7:45 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/4-2461. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Root, cleared by Brown, and approved by Penfield. As a result of the transfer of the Government of Libya from Benghazi to Tripoli, the Embassy was transferred to Tripoli effective January 25, 1960, with a branch office in Benghazi. Telegraphic traffic between Libya and the Department of State addressed both Tripoli and Benghazi as Embassies.

92. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tripoli, Libya

Washington, August 25, 1961, 9:09 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 773.56311/8-2561. Secret. Drafted by Post (AF) and Junkermann (DOD); cleared by MacKnight, Newman, and Kilduff; and approved by Witman. Also sent to Benghazi.

93. Telegram From the Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, to the Department of State

Benghazi, October 22, 1961, 3 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.15-WI/10-2261. Confidential.

94. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Washington, June 15, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 773.11/6-1562. Confidential. Drafted by Post (AF/AFN) on June 12 and approved by the White House on June 22.

95. Letter From Secretary of Defense McNamara to the Libyan Minister of Defense (Belkhair)

Washington, June 25, 1962.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 65 A 3501, Libya 000.1-121, 1962. Secret. No drafting information appears on the source text. The text of this letter was sent to McNamara under cover of a memorandum from Nitze indicating that the letter had been prepared in response to McNamara’s instructions. McNamara personally delivered the letter to Belkhair on June 25.

96. Editorial Note

97. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, October 15, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Libya, 9/62-12/62. Top Secret. Briefing papers cited in this memorandum are ibid., Crown Prince Hasan Briefing Book, 10/6/62-10/24/62.

98. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Benghazi, Libya

Washington, October 19, 1962, 6:11 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 773.11/10-1962. Confidential. Drafted by Post on October 18; cleared by Carr, Jones, Steele, and Junkermann (DOD), Gookin, and Slater; and approved by Newsom. Also sent to Tripoli and pouched to London, Paris for the Embassy and USCINCEUR.

99. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Benghazi, Libya

Washington, October 19, 1962, 7:01 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 773.5/10-1962. Confidential. Drafted by Post on October 18; cleared by Jones, Junkermann (DOD), Wolf, and Mossler; and approved by Newsom. Also sent to Tripoli and repeated to Paris for USCINCEUR.

100. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara

Washington, October 31, 1962.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 65 A 3501, Libya 123.7-686, 1962. Secret. An appendix containing specific JCS and OSD comments on a July 1962 draft of the U.S. Army Survey Team Report on Libya is attached but not printed.

101. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tripoli, Libya

Washington, November 23, 1962, 3:25 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 65 D 533, Visit of Libyan Crown Prince, Oct. 16-24, 1962. Confidential. Drafted by Carr and McClanahan on November 19; cleared by Mossler, Kent, and Hinman; and approved by Hutchinson.

102. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of Defense McNamara

Washington, December 1, 1962.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 65 A 3501, Libya 000.1-121, 1962. Secret. Attached is a transmittal note from Bundy to McNamara that reads: “The attached seeks your approval by Monday noon in order to meet a political deadline which has just arisen. Subsequent to writing this, I have seen JCS comments which would accept the lower of the alternatives considered. However, I would myself still accept the State judgment that we cannot keep matters sweet in Libya at that figure. The issue is essentially political.”