55. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1
McGB:
We hit a stone wall in Libyan Foreign Minister Maaziq when Wheelus talks opened Wednesday.2 In addition to ranting about ineffectiveness [Page 86] of US aid, he demanded we terminate the base agreement, negotiate terms of withdrawal and cancel MAP (about which he turned out to be totally uninformed).
Maaziq’s approach contrasted sharply with King’s and PM Muntassir’s. Just before talks started, Muntassir told Jones and Lightner he was sure we could find solution “even if by camouflage.” Jones is having lunch tomorrow with Muntassir to express amazement and unhappiness at Maaziq’s tack and to try to figure out what Muntassir-Maaziq are up to. State is cabling its support for his approach.
If Muntassir can’t or won’t soften Maaziq’s line, our getting to the King will be all the more important. Their tough opening may just be Arab bargaining, but Maaziq’s tirade makes it sound more like Arab nationalism. Jones will be back here next week to report so we can get our next steps lined up. My sense is that Maaziq must go (and we could get rid of him by carrying tales to the King), but State will take its usual two weeks to come around to same conclusion. Lightner probably also needs to be replaced but the Old Crocodile can be depended on here.
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Libya, Vol. I, 11/63–6/64. Secret.↩
- A detailed account of the April 29 negotiations between the U.S. and Libyan delegations at Baida was transmitted in airgram A–47 from Baida, May 2. (Department of State, Central Files, DEF 15–4 LIBYA–US)↩