Italian Says U.S. Should Have Taken Dispute to Court

Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Andreotti told visiting Secretary of State George P. Shultz on Saturday that the United States should have taken the dispute over the Gulf of Sidra to the World Court instead of challenging Libyan claims with military power.

Talking to reporters after a two-hour lunch with Shultz, Andreotti said, “The best solution would be the legal solution.” But he said Shultz rejected the idea and staunchly defended the U.S. action in sending combat planes and ships into the gulf.

A State Department official confirmed that Shultz had rejected Andreotti’s idea and said such a court action would be a “frivolous case,” as virtually no other country recognizes Libya’s claim of sovereignty over the gulf.

Andreotti sarcastically remarked that he was pleased Shultz was consulting Italy about the crisis although the consultations “would work even better if they were timely and happened before the event.”

Gesturing with shrugs and winks, he added, “One must consider that when a unilateral action is carried out, it is perhaps a sign of respect not to give notice to others in order not to involve them.”

Shultz later met alone with Pope John Paul II for about 35 minutes in the private papal library. Later, the secretary of state was joined by 37 members of his party for an expanded audience. Shultz’s wife, Helena, a practicing Roman Catholic, kissed the Pope’s ring although many other members of the party did not.