Office of the Historian

133. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Murphy) to Secretary of State Shultz1

Washington, February 23, 1984

SUBJECT

  • Proposed Visit of Algerian Presidential Emissary

ISSUE FOR DECISION

How to respond to President Bendjedid’s request to send Commerce Minister Khellef to Washington in the period March 12–17 to deliver a message to the President and meet with you for substantive discussions.

ESSENTIAL FACTORS

Algeria’s Acting Foreign Minister informed Ambassador Newlin February 20 that President Bendjedid would like to send Commerce Minister Khellef to Washington in mid-March to deliver a message to the President and hold discussions with you on the situation in the region. Though Khellef’s mandate would clearly be broader, the announced purpose of the trip would be to discuss US-Algerian economic/commercial relations. Commerce Secretary Baldrige has set aside time on his schedule March 13 to see Khellef. We will also seek appointments for Khellef with Energy Secretary Hodel2 and Agriculture Secretary Block,3 both recent visitors to Algiers.

Bendjedid’s proposal is an important step forward in the political dialogue that we have been pursuing with the GOA since late 1982. For [Page 300] the first time, the Algerians have taken the initiative to seek consultations with us in Washington through a special Presidential emissary. They have been responsive to previous such requests from us and have received at either the Presidential or Foreign Minister level a variety of senior US officials, including the Vice President, Secretaries Baldrige, Block and Hodel, Under Secretary Eagleburger and Ambassadors Rumsfeld and Walters.4 We should be as forthcoming as possible to Bendjedid’s request, seeking a brief meeting with the President and a longer appointment with the Vice President, as well as meetings with you and others in the Department.

The cable attached at Tab 15 authorizes Ambassador Newlin to inform the GOA of your general agreement to the proposed visit, indicates specifically that you will receive Khellef and notes that we will work with the White House and others to develop a formal schedule for the March 12–17 timeframe.6

RECOMMENDATION

That you approve the cable attached at Tab 1.

That you agree to an appointment with Minister Khellef in the period March 12–17.7

  1. Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Official Memoranda (02/23/1984). Secret. Sent through Eagleburger. Drafted by Ann Korky (MEA/AFN) on February 22; cleared by Sebastian, David Schneider, and in substance by Loustonou (USDOC). A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum dated February 27 reads: “GPS.” Hill initialed the top right hand corner of the memorandum and wrote: “2/27.” Tab 2, telegram 887 from Algiers, February 20, is not attached. In the telegram, Newlin reported that Kerroum had informed him that “Bendjedid wished to send Minister of Commerce Khellef to the United States between March 12–17 carrying a message to the President.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D840111–0568)↩
  2. A summary of Hodel’s November 1983 visit to Algiers, which included a 55-minute meeting with Bendjedid and discussions with Nabi about the Trunkline contract, is in telegram 5147 from Algiers, November 22, 1983. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830687–0281)↩
  3. A record of Block’s January 31–February 2 visit to Algeria is in telegram 586 from Algiers, February 2. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D840071–0133)↩
  4. See documents 114, 120, 121, 126, 130, and 132. No record of Rumsfeld’s meeting with Algerian officials has been found.↩
  5. Tab 1, telegram 57544 to Algiers, February 28, is not attached. It is in Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D840127–0636.↩
  6. On March 3, Hill advised McFarlane that the Department recommended that Reagan agree to a “brief meeting” with Khellef on March 13 in order to personally receive Bendjedid’s message. (Memorandum from Hill to McFarlane, March 3; Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Africa, Algeria (01/24/1982–09/26/1983))↩
  7. Shultz initialed the “Approve” recommendation. A stamp next to his initials reads: “FEB 27 1984.” Shultz asked his assistant to “work out” a meeting time.↩