334. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan1
1. John Whitehead’s Meetings in Tunisia. In meetings with the Tunisian Foreign Minister, Prime Minister and President Bourguiba,2 John got an earful of Tunisian indignation about our perceived involvement in the Israeli raid on the PLO base in Tunisia and our reaction to it. As the day went on, however, the atmosphere of bitterness and resentment seemed to steadily improve. Although the Tunisians are pessimistic about the peace process and continue to be bitter toward Israel, all John’s interlocutors made strong pledges of continued friendship and cooperation with the US. Significantly, they agreed that they will not allow Abu Abbas into the country as long as there is any doubt at all about his involvement in the hijacking.3 All indications are that the Tunisians consider the mission to have been a success. (S)
[Omitted here is material unrelated to Tunisia.]
- Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, President’s Evening Reading, July–December 1985. Secret.↩
- A record of Whitehead’s meetings is in telegram 9713 from Tunis, October 22. (Reagan Library, Near East and South Asia Affairs Directorate, Tunisia 1985 (10/07/1985–12/11/1985))↩
- See Document 333.↩