CONFIDENTIAL
FLASHCYPHER CAT/A
TRIPOLI 02124ozCONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY *
TO FLASH F C O TELNO 1324 OF 2 DECEMBER AND IMMEDIATE INFO TOBAHRAIN RES, TEHERAN,PRIORITY.INFO TO UKMIS NEW YORK, CAIRO,WASHINGTON ROUTIEN INFO TO ALGIERS , RABAT AND TUNIS .
RECEIVED INREGISTRYN-2 DEC: 71
YOUR TELNO 996 NOT YET bied.
GULF ISLANDS
NOTAIO
1. I REGRET THAT YOUR TEL UNDER REF ARRIVED AFTER I HADSPOKEN TO THE ACTING UNDER-SECRETARY OF THE MUFA, AND LEFT WITHHIM A COPY OF THE RULER OF SHARJAH'S STATEMENT AND A SHORT,FACTUAL AIDE MEMOIRE ON THE LINES OF PARA 5 OF MY TELNO 1312
2. BU KHREIS SAID THAT THE LIBYANS WERE " SURPRISED AND HURT'AT THE SUDDENNESS OF THE IRANIAN ACTION, AND AT BRITAIN'S FAILURETO TAKE COUNTER-MEASURES, IF NECESSARY INVOLVING MILITARY ACTION.THERE COULD BE NO COMPROMI SE OVER ARAB RIGHTS. THE ARABS FELTTHEMSELVES THREATENED BY ISRAELI EXPANSION ON ONE SIDE AND IRANIANEXPANSION ON THE OTHER. COL. QADHAFI WAS TAKING A PERSONALINTEREST IN THE MATTER, AND A "HIGH LIBYAN OFFICIAL'' WOULDBE VISITING THE GULF AREA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ON A FACTFINDING MISSION.( I SEE FROM CAIRO TELNO 1582 THAT JALUD IS THEEMISSARY IN QUESTION).
'N. YET Rec'd.
3. I SAID THAT I WOULD IMMEDIATELY REPORT THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT'SCONCERN TO YOU. SPEAKING PERSONALLY, I THOUGHT THAT THE PROPOSEDFACT -FINDING MISSION SHOULD BE BENEFICIAL. AS REGARDS THEIRANIAN OCCUPATION OF THE TUMBS, 1 POINTED OUT THAT HMG HADMADE IT CLEAR TO THE RULER OF RAS AL-KHAIMAH THAT THIS WAS. ALIKELY CONSEQUENCE OF HIS FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THEA RANI ANS.I WAS ALSO ABLE TO CORRECT A NUMBER OF BU KHREIS' MISAPPREHENSIONSOVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE OCCUPATION AND OVER THEABU MUSA SETTLEMENT.
14. YOUR :
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