Office of the Historian

48. Telegram 4568 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Libya1

Washington, January 8, 1976, 2036Z.

4568. Subject: US–Libyan Relations: Enlarging Libyan Embassy Staff in Washington. Ref: A. Tripoli 19 B. Cairo 5640 of 5 June 1975.

1. Department has decided to lift restrictions on size Libyan Mission in Washington and will deliver following note to Embassy here on January 8: Quote: The Department of State refers to the note of September 2, 1975 from the Embassy of the Libyan Arab Republic officially conveying the decision of the Libyan Arab Republic to lift the restriction on the number of U.S. diplomatic staff assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli. The Government of the United States, on the basis of reciprocity, has decided to lift the restriction on the size of the diplomatic staff working at the Embassy of the Libyan Arab Republic in Washington. This information is also being conveyed through the United States Chargé d’Affaires in Tripoli to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Unquote.

2. This responds to one of several Libyan démarches made in 1975 in name of “improved” relations. Dept. does not plan to respond to other outstanding requests (e.g., release of C–130s or agrément of Libyan Ambassador) given continued active opposition of LARG to our efforts in support of negotiated settlement in Middle East. This decision to remove ceiling on Libyan Mission personnel in Washington is based on USG desire to improve working level communications in such matters as consular and commercial services, and is in reciprocity for earlier Libyan removal of ceiling on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Tripoli.

3. Embassy Tripoli should inform MFA orally of Department decision conveyed by diplomatic note to its mission here.

4. For Cairo: While you should not volunteer this information to GOE, if asked you should assure Egyptians that action was simple reciprocal gesture in response to similar action by Libyans, will help alleviate Libyan Embassy’s consular workload (which is also in USG interest) and carries no policy significance. We have not granted agrément for a Libyan Ambassador and have no intention of raising level of official U.S.—Libyan relations at this time.

Kissinger

  1. Summary: The Embassy was informed of the decision to lift restrictions on the size of the Libyan mission in Washington.

    Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Operations Staff for Middle East and South Asia Affairs, Box 18, Country File, Libya (1). Confidential; Niact Immediate. Repeated to Cairo.

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