POLITICAL; MILITARY - ATOMIC BOMB AIR BASES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700210222-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 10, 2002
• Sequence Number: 222
• Publication Date: March 20, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/08/06 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700210222-7
COUNTRY Libya; L6; Great Britain; Egypt
SUBJECT Political; Military - Atomic bomb air bases
HOW
PUBLISHED Weekly periodical
WHERE
PUBLISHED Cairo
DATE
PUBLISHED 10 Dec 1952
LANGUAGE Arabic
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REPORT NO.
CD NO.
DATE OF
DATE DIST. ')-D Mar 1953
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED
SECURITY INFORMATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
US, GREAT BRITAIN IN C0NTEST FOR INFLUENCE IN LIBYA
,omment: The following information was taken from an
article by Hamdi Fuad in the Cairo weekly periodical Akhir
Sa'ah of 10 December 1952. Fuad, alleges that there is a
conflict between the US and Great Britain over Libyaj
The LG and Great Britain have begun fighting over the most imports t
military bases in Libya in preparation for a future war in which atomic bombs
The US, the only big power with no strategic bases in the Middle Fast, has
been the quickest among the powers to get these bases at any cost. Its primary
purpose is air bases for huge atomic bomb stores.
Great Britain, which finds it difficult to give up its interests in the
Middle East, especially in Libya, has been watching the US very closely. Thus,
the cold war began between the two powers, who give the outrard app... ?anea of
being allies, but who are actually fighting each other.
The US prepared a draft treaty and submitted it to the Libyan government.
Some of the important provisions of this draft treaty are as follows:
1. The US would lease from Libya the Mallaha area in Tripolitania for the
establishment of airfields.
2. The U5 would lease from Libya the Kambout region in Cyrenaica and the
Hun airfield in southern Tripolitania to establish atomic bomb stores and
air bases.
3. The Libyan government would have the right to inspect these strategic
are"s.
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4. The I15 would pay an annual rent of 10 million dollars for the use of
these lands.
5. Libya would be given four naval vessels.
6. The IE would undertake to supply the Libyan army with military ex-
perts whose salaries would be paid by the US, and the US would also equip the
Libyan army with military supplies for the planned Libyan army of 20,000 men.
Great Britain has noted that the treaty as drafted would eventually put
an and to British influence, because it has been agreed previously that Cyre-
naicat+ould be a British sphere of influence, while Tripolitania would be a
sphere of influence for the US. The US, however, has been consolidating its
air activities in Cyrenaica, activities which have annoyed the British govern-
ment.
Great Britain intervened to amend this draft treaty and proposed the in-
clusion of the following amendments:
1. Arming of Libya's forces may not be effected, except with the con-
currence of ttte US and Great Britain.
The Libyans refused the treaty and suspended negotiations; and King
Idris as-Sanusi and Premier Mahmud al- Muntas'ir succeeded in not submitting
the treaty to Parliament last April, as stipulated.
The US felt the gravity of the situation, as it was aware of the impend-
ing visit of King Idris to Egypt and its subsequent important diplomatic re-
sults. The US then immediately recalled its minister to Libya and asked him
to prepare a report on the reasons leading to the refusal of the treaty and
the proposals which he thinks would vin Libya's quick acceptance.
In the meantime, Great Britain exploited the situation by preparing an
important political draft treaty, the main emphasis of which is to acquire new
military bases. Some of the provisions of this treaty are as follows:
1. Great Britain would have the right to grant strategic areas to its
allies in the provinces of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania.
2. Great Britain would meet the deficit in the budgets of Cyrenaica and
Tripolitania, which amounts to 1,500,000 Egyptian pounds.
3. Great Britain would have the right to appoint financial consultants
for all the Libyan ministries to supervise budgetary allocations and spending.
4. No limit would be set on the time British forces may stay in Cyre-
naica and Tripolitania.
5. The British minister to Libya would be the dean of the diplomatic
corps.
RESTRICTED
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As a result of these diplomatic developments, the US decided to put its
treaty into effect without having Libya brae to it. It actually resorted to
occupying the air bases in Kambout by a simple and easy method: dropping its
troops and equipment by parachute. It also occupied the Hun airfield in
southern Tripolitania, where 5,000 US families are now living and where six
cargo planes land daily, loaded with what the residents of that area need.
Thus, the US has been able to establish its first atomic bomb bases in
the Middle East and in the Mediterranean area itself.
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