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

304. Telegram From the Embassy in Tunisia to the Department of State¹

6978.

Tunis, September 18, 1982, 2250Z

SUBJECT

• Tunisian Démarche re Beirut Massacre.

1. Foreign Ministry Secretary General Fezzani (in the absence of Foreign Minister who went to Paris today with President Bourguiba) called me in urgently tonight, September 18, following reported massacres of Palestinians in Beirut.² He said Bourguiba had personally telephoned from Paris with instructions that he convey to the U.S. Government Bourguiba’s “shock, consternation and indignation” upon hearing the news from Beirut. Bourguiba also urged that the members of the multinational force “honor their responsibilities.” Fezzani said he was conveying the same message from Bourguiba to my French and Italian colleagues here.

2. I told Fezzani the U.S. Government shared President Bourguiba’s sentiments, as clearly evidenced by President Reagan’s public statement today expressing outrage and regrets concerning the killings.³ I noted further the President’s call for immediate Israeli withdrawal from West Beirut followed by withdrawals of all foreign forces from Lebanon.

3. In response to my query, Fezzani said Bourguiba did not specify exactly what he expected the three members of the multinational force to do. I reminded Fezzani that the force’s mandate was limited in scope and did not encompass maintenance of Lebanese internal security, which was the responsibility of the Lebanese Government. Fezzani said he understood this, but observed the situation had been radically altered by the Israelis move into West Beirut, which he viewed as a violation of the agreements worked out by us with Israel and Lebanon. He urged that we use all possible means to bring the Israelis into line.

5. Noting the rather graphic coverage of the killings in Beirut on Tunisian television that evening and the claim that 1,400 Palestinians had been murdered, I said that all the facts were apparently not yet known and expressed the hope that Tunisians would exercise caution until they were. I also took the occasion to express my satisfaction regarding the excellent cooperation we had received from Tunisian security officials in handling the volatile public reaction to events in Lebanon throughout the summer, and my hope that such cooperation would continue. Fezzani assured me it would.

6. Comment. Fezzani’s démarche was generally low-key and obviously was made on rather sketchy instructions from Bourguiba. We can probably expect to hear more from the GOT as developments unfold.⁴ Fezzani’s reference to the emotional impact which the killings are likely to have on PLO fighters dispersed in Arab countries probably reflected one of the GOT’s principal concerns. He did not indicate, however, whether the PLO contingent in Tunisia had yet reacted.

Cutler

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850439–0532. Confidential; Immediate. Sent for information Priority to Algiers, Paris, Rabat, and Rome. The document is misnumbered in the original.
2. See footnote 6, Document 28.
3. In his September 18 statement, Reagan said he was “horrified to learn this morning of the killing of Palestinians which has taken place in Beirut. All people of decency must share our outrage and revulsion over the murders, which included women and children.” Reagan also announced that he had demanded “that the Israeli Government immediately withdraw its forces from west Beirut to the positions occupied on September 14.” Public Papers: Reagan, 1982, Book II, p. 1181)
4. In telegram 7015 from Tunis, September 20, Cutler reported that in regard to Reagan’s September 18 statement, “Bourguiba had been encouraged by the President’s strong reaction to the massacres and his insistence on Israeli withdrawal. Bourguiba had also appreciated our determination not to be diverted from pursuing the Middle East peace process.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D820485–1129)