MIDDLE EAST CRISIS Secret Offer Iraq Sent Pullout Deal to U.S.

; [ALL EDITIONS]

By Knut Royce. Newsday Washington Bureau. Newsday. (Combined editions). Long Island,
N.Y.: Aug 29, 1990. pg. NOPGCIT

CORRECTION: A Page 1 headline in some editions of Newsday yesterday referred to an ``Aug.

8 message'' to the White House from Iraq. Iraq's message was delivered Thursday, Aug. 23. (Pg.
2 ALL 8/30/90)

Iraq has told the White House it will withdraw from Kuwait and allow foreigners to leave, but in
return it wants United Nations sanctions lifted, guaranteed access to the Persian Gulf and sole
control of an oil field that dips into Kuwait, according to sources involved in the secret offer and
memoranda detailing its content.

Iraq's message was delivered to National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft on Thursday by a
former high-ranking U.S. official. Contacted by Newsday yesterday, the former official
confirmed he had relayed Iraq's proposal to the White House.

The former official, who spoke on condition he not be further identified, acknowledged he was
unsure whether the proposal was a serious offer or merely "floating something to see whether
you're going to bite or not."

At a luncheon with Scowcroft several days earlier, the national security adviser had told the
former official that the United States was "not blind" to negotiations and was "trying to do
everything without taking the military option," according to a private summary of that meeting.
At the same time, the United States was "waiting to see the result of the {UN-imposed}
economic sanctions" to prod Iraq from Kuwait.

A White House spokesman said he was aware that Iraq has been floating some "trial balloons"
but reaffirmed President George Bush's stated precondition that Iraq pull out of Kuwait, allow
the restoration of its government and release all hostages before any negotiations begin.

Nevertheless, one administration official who specializes in Mideast affairs said, "The terms of
the proposal are serious," and he described the package as "negotiable." Of significance, he said,
was the fact that Iraq made no mention in its proposal of a precondition that the United States
pull its troops out of Saudi Arabia. The official also noted that the proposal follows earlier ones
that contained what he described as "impossible demands," such as linking a pullout from
Kuwait with an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

The message was delivered during a period of extreme tension as Iraq threatened to evict
diplomats from the embassies in Kuwait and the administration, according to sources, was
contemplating military retaliation.

According to a document outlining the proposal, Iraq would agree to withdraw from Kuwait and
allow foreigners to leave the country. In return, UN economic sanctions would be lifted. Iraq
would gain "guaranteed access" to the Persian Gulf through the Kuwaiti islands of Bubiyan and
Warbah and gain full control of the Rumailah oil field that extends slightly into Kuwaiti territory
from Iraq.

In addition, Iraq's proposal includes offers to negotiate an oil agreement with the United States
"satisfactory to both nations' national security interests," develop a joint plan "to alleviate Iraq's
economical and financial problems" and "jointly work on the stability of the gulf."

Iraq's proposal to the White House originated from the foreign ministry in Baghdad "and higher-
ups" - by inference President Saddam Hussein. Thursday's message was delivered to the former
administration official by an Iraqi-born American friend of his with extensive business ties in
Iraq, according to memoranda obtained by Newsday.

The documents were provided on condition that those involved in the secret proposal not be
identified.

The Iraqi-born American and another American, who is described in the memoranda as someone
"close" to White House Chief of Staff John Sununu, were in Baghdad when Iraq invaded Kuwait
on Aug. 2. They had sought to leave shortly after the invasion but were asked by an influential
Iraqi official who is close to Hussein to stay on for a few days while Iraq prepared a "message"
for the Bush administration, the documents show.

On Aug. 10 Sununu's friend had relayed a message that was more hostile in tone than the
proposal on Thursday and threatened that "Iraq will return military action in kind," though it
would not initiate an attack. Yet even then it hinted it might consider a pullout from Kuwait by
declaring that "it is very difficult for Iraq to withdraw {from Kuwait} with U.S. troops in Saudi
Arabia."

Beyond that, it said that if the United States did not launch an attack, Iraq would "increase good
relations with the United States, including oil; keep all options open; and be ready to
immediately meet face to face at any place with responsible U.S. officials."

Thursday's proposal came as some government officials now say that they see some hope of a
negotiated settlement. Rep. William Broomfield (R-Mich.), the ranking Republican on the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, said yesterday that he was now optimistic about the possibility of a
diplomatic resolution to the crisis in the Persian Gulf.

"I think there's more going on on the diplomatic side than most people realize. In fact, I know
there is," Broomfield said.

Some State Department officials and others in the administration believe Hussein must be
allowed to have at least a "fig leaf" if he is to pull out of Kuwait peacefully. They have, for
example, privately discussed the possibility that he might gain access to the gulf through the
Kuwaiti islands as a face-saving gesture.
Others, including some members of Congress, have publicly declared that the only guarantee to
long-term peace lies in the destruction of Iraq's army and military industry and the removal of
Hussein himself.

Saul Friedman contributed to this report. **** ***** Iraq's Proposals

Iraq, through intermediaries, made the following proposals for settling the Gulf crisis to the
United States within the past week.

What Iraq Offered Withdrawal from Kuwait. Foreigners allowed to leave.

What Iraq Wants Possession of the Rumailah oil field. Guaranteed access to the Gulf. Lifting of
sanctions. Negotiations with the U.S. on an oil agreement satisfactory to national security
interests of both countries. Joint development of a plan to alleviate Iraq's economic and financial
problems. Joint work on stability of the Gulf.

[Illustration]
Newsday Chart/map by Linda McKenney-Iraq's Proposals. Iraq, through intermediaries, made
the following proposals for settling the Gulf crisis to the United States within the past week (See
end of text). For map showing location of Rumailah oil field in Kuwait (see microfilm) Defense
Department Pool Photo via AP-French transport helicopters land on deck of aircraft carrier in
East African port of Djibouti. Craft was headed for gulf.; Iraq's Secret Offer. Aug. 8 Message to
White House. Proposed Pullout, Hostage Release. 1) Iraqi Withdrawal From Kuwait. 2) Release
Of Foreign Hostages. 3) Iraqi Control Of Rumailah Oil Fields. 4) Guaranteed Access To The
Gulf. 5) Lifting Of UN Sanctions. 6) Development Of Joint Aid, Security Plans
{CORRECTION: A Page 1 headline in some editions of Newsday yesterday referred to an
``Aug. 8 message'' to the White House from Iraq. Iraq's message was delivered Thursday, Aug.
23. (Pg. 2 ALL 8/30/90)