Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

301. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to President Reagan¹

Washington, July 31, 1982

SUBJECT

• Your Reply to Tunisian President Concerning Lebanon

At Tab A for your signature is a reply to President Bourguiba of Tunisia, who wrote you about the situation in Lebanon (Tab B). He suggests that you take action to bring the siege of West Beirut to an end.

Your response expresses concern for the suffering of innocent people, states that Phil Habib is doing his best not only to bring the siege of West Beirut to an end but also to enable the Lebanese to rebuild their country without outside interference.

RECOMMENDATION

That you sign the letter at Tab A.²

Tab A

Letter From President Reagan to President Bourguiba³

Washington, August 5, 1982

Dear Mr. President:

Your letter of July 9 concerning events in Lebanon is an eloquent statement of the tragedy facing the region.⁴ The quality of your friendship and the traditional balance of your approach to the problems of the region add special weight to your communication. You were in the forefront of those leaders in the Arab world who counselled an approach based on mutual understanding at a time when to do so required special courage.

We share your humanitarian concern for the people in Lebanon, and we will spare no exertion to help bring an end to the fighting. Disengagement with honor for all parties continues to be the theme of Ambassador Habib’s diplomacy. The United States is pursuing vigorous initiatives to enable the Lebanese to rebuild their country without interference.

As I told the American people on June 30,⁵ we intend to persevere in our continued efforts to resolve the underlying problem of the Palestinians once and for all as soon as we have attained our more urgent objectives. We are under no illusion that this task will be easy. Patience and wisdom will be put to the test on all parts. We will need the advice and cooperation of our friends, especially good friends such as Tunisia, if we are to succeed. We hope to benefit from your goodwill and your insight in the long labor of helping to bring a just, enduring peace to the Middle East.

I deeply appreciate the concern which inspired your message to me and look forward to a continuing dialogue with you in the spirit of the values we share.

Sincerely,

Ronald Reagan

Tab B

Letter From Tunisian President Bourguiba to President Reagan⁶

Tunis, July 9, 1982

Mr. President:

The state of siege that continues around West Beirut is, over the short term, a terrible threat to the lives of thousands of people and, in the long run, will exacerbate a situation that could deteriorate into a conflagration of incalculable consequences.

This is why I turn to you again in the context of the consultations that continue between your country and mine and, in particular, between you, Mr. President, and myself.

Your ambassador has informed my government that the United States does not wish to humiliate or to destroy the leadership of the PLO. It considers that once the Lebanese problem is settled, the PLO leaders and the Palestinian people will be able to safeguard their interests and work towards achieving their aspirations of nationhood.

Your ambassador reassures us that your government is doing everything possible to spare other human lives, whether Palestinian or Lebanese.

Convinced, therefore, of your determination to prevent the worst from happening, I appeal to you and to your great country for a rapid end to the current situation. It is high time for you to take vigorous action to bring the siege of West Beirut to an end and to ensure that reason will prevail over brute force.

We who share the same belief in the ideals of freedom and justice know full well that brute force will never prevail over the determination of a people to defend its most sacred rights, especially its right to exist.

We are dutybound to do everything possible to prevent needless deaths and a catastrophic deterioration of the situation in that region, which would only serve the interests of those who oppose freedom.

Accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my friendship and my high consideration and esteem.

Habib Bourguiba⁷
President of the Republic of Tunisia

1. Source: Reagan Library, Geoffrey T.H. Kemp Files, Subject File, Tunisia 1982 (June 1982). No classification marking. Sent for action. Drafted by Tanter. A notation in an unknown hand in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum indicates that Reagan signed the letter on August 5.
2. Reagan checked and initialed his approval of the recommendation.
3. No classification marking.
4. In telegram 6081 from Tunis, August 16, Cutler reported that the “French Ambassador, who saw Bourguiba at his summer residence in Monastir shortly after he received President Reagan’s second message to him on Lebanon, tells me that he appeared to be quite pleased by it. ‘President Reagan holds me in high regard,’ Bourguiba said. He was still upset by the situation in Lebanon, but made clear to the French Ambassador that he had not by any means given up hope in the U.S: ‘If the Americans don’t defend justice, who will’?” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D820409–1055)
5. Reagan made the remark during a June 30 news conference in which he was asked to respond to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. See Public Papers: Reagan, 1982, Book I, pp. 826–834.
6. No classification marking. Printed from a translation prepared in the Division of Language Services, Department of State.
7. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.