Office of the Historian

46. Telegram 183000/Tosec 80302 From the Department of State to Secretary of State Kissinger at Bucharest1

Washington, August 2, 1975, 1558Z.

Tosec 80302. Fol repeat of Cairo 7613 to SecState Aug 2. Qte: Cairo 7613. Dept pass Secretary from Ambassador. Subject: Action Memorandum—Sadat’s Views on Northrop-Page Air Defense System for Libya. Ref: A. State 182532 (Tosec 80271) B. Secto 8111.

1. Upon receipt reftel A, I prepared a message setting forth my view that Sadat might be expected to oppose sale of Northrop-Page air defense system to Libya even though he agreed in June, 1974 to such a sale. Circumstances of June, 1974 are different from those that now obtain. Relations between Sadat and Qadhafi are currently so bad that anything USG does, directly or through approved commercial contract for any kind of weaponry for Libya, will be viewed by Sadat, by Egyptians and by other Arabs as a USG slap at Sadat. I received reftel B prior to sending my message and therefore dropped it.

2. I have been in touch with Fahmy in Alexandria about the matter and spoke to him along lines talking points set forth para 7 reftel A. Fahmy recalled Sadat had approved sale in June, 1974, but expressed concern that we should now go through with it. He hoped there was some way of calling it off. He was sure this would also be Sadat’s view, but undertook to check. Gen Fahmy called back an hour later to say he had discussed the matter with the President. Sadat strongly hopes the entire sale can be “scotched completely” until such time in the future as Qadhafi behaves better.

[Page 126]

4. Comment: The President’s reaction was predictable. Eilts. Unqte.

Ingersoll

  1. Summary: In a repeat of a telegram from Cairo, Eilts reported that Sadat was strongly opposed to the air defense system for Libya despite earlier approval. Eilts attributed the change in attitude to the deteriorating relations between Egypt and Libya.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, D750267–0953. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Kissinger was in Bucharest with President Ford on an official visit.

    ↩