85. Memorandum From the Counsel to the President (Dean) to the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Haig)1 2
SUBJECT:
- Possible Libyan Funding of the Nation of Islam
The Central Intelligence Agency has forwarded a report to us on the above subject which I believe should be brought to your attention. This report indicates that a preliminary agreement has been reached by which the Libyan Government will loan approximately three million dollars without interest to the Nation of Islam (NOI), more commonly known as the Black Muslims.
NOI is a radical black organization which advocates the establishment of an independent black nation in the United States, preaches hatred of the white man while teaching strong puritanical self-disciple for its black followers, and purports to follow the Moslem religion. Founded in the 1930’s by Elijah Muhammad, the self-styled “Messenger of Allah,” NOI has established temples throughout the country and a lavish headquarters in Chicago. Its most prominent follower, until a split led to his assassination, was Malcolm X. More recently, younger dissident elements have started open warfare with the NOI leadership and sparked violent confrontations such as the recent incident in Baton Rouge, La. which resulted in four deaths.
In mid-December Herbert Muhammad, the son of Elijah Muhammad, met in Tripoli with Libyan Prime Minister Colonel Mu’ammar Qadhafi to request aid. Prime Minister Qadhafi agreed to lend NOI one million Libyan pounds (about three million dollars) without interest on the assumption that the money would be used to establish church facilities for teaching the Arabic language and the Islamic religion. The loan was to be consummated through the Libyan Ambassador to the United States, Abdullah Suisi.
Investigations by Ambassador Suisi and Minister of Religious Affairs Bashir Al Saghir Al Hawadi have convinced them that NOI is not a Moslem organization in the true sense of the word and that any financial assistance received by them would go toward the personal betterment of Black Muslim leaders. Both Suisi and Hawadi have recently attempted to persuade Prime Minister Qadhafi that no loan should be made. As of January 25, the Ambassador had not yet released the funds to NOI.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 739, Country Files, Africa, Libya, Vol. II. Secret. The Libyan Government gave its grant to the Nation of Islam on May 8. (Ibid.)↩
- Dean warned Haig that the Libyan Government planned to loan three million dollars interest-free to the Nation of Islam.↩