54. Memorandum From Secretary of State Muskie to President Carter1
[Omitted here is material unrelated to the conflict between Chad and Libya.]
5. Libyan Adventurism in Chad: In response to a briefing item we recently sent you on this subject, you suggested we go to the UN and build a public case.2 While we do not rule this out in the future, we should proceed with some caution since the African states, and in particular Nigeria, are sensitive to non-African initiatives in the Chadian conflict.3 Furthermore, discussions at the UN could include Egypt’s support for the anti-Libyan rebel elements opposed to the currently recognized Chadian Government. We are continuing, by a variety of means, our efforts to heighten awareness of the concerned African states and to generate public discussion in the OAU context. This would precede any consideration by the UN. (C)
[Omitted here is material unrelated to the conflict between Chad and Libya.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 24, Evening Reports (State): 11/80. Secret.↩
- See footnote 1, Document 53.↩
- Carter wrote in the left-hand margin: “Continue to push every feasible avenue—through African states may be best—to publicize Libya’s adventurism.”↩