289. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Clark to President Reagan1
[Omitted here is material unrelated to Tunisia.]
2. Meetings with Foreign Ministers of Morocco and Tunisia. Al Haig met with the Foreign Minister of Morocco last night2 and the Foreign Minister of Tunisia early this morning.3 Both expressed profound regret at the loss of Sadat,4 and deep concern about the stability of the Middle East in the aftermath of the tragedy. Both offered to work closely with us.
The Tunisians urgently appealed for improved military assistance on the basis that while threats to Tunisia are now greater, it cannot abandon domestic economic and social progress to improve its military capability.5 They also pleaded that we seek prompt Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai, perhaps ahead of schedule. This would constitute an early, positive success for Mubarak and help him stabilize fragile Egyptian domestic and external political positions. (S)
[Omitted here is material unrelated to Tunisia.]
- Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Agency File, Secretary Haig’s Evening Report (10/02/1981–10/28/1981). Secret. Clark was acting for Haig who was en route to Cairo to attend Sadat’s funeral.↩
- See Document 196.↩
- A record of the Haig-Bourguiba meeting is in telegram 277315 to Tunis, October 17. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D810491–0324)↩
- See footnote 3, Document 196.↩
- An unknown hand wrote: “?” and a checkmark in the margin above this sentence.↩