31. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in the OPEC Capitals1
7457. Subject: Secretary’s Message to OPEC Governments. Ref: Doha 0021 (Notal); Abu Dhabi 0047 (Notal).2 Beirut pass Baghdad for action.
[Page 111]1. On Dec 24, Secretary sent letters to seven OPEC governments3 (those listed as info addressees to this cable) which included outline of possible timetable and approach to multilateral producer/consumer conference. This proposal stemmed from agreement reached between Presidents Ford and Giscard d’Estaing during their Dec 14–16 meetings in Martinique. Secretary has, since that time, sent no rpt no subsequent messages on this subject to other OPEC governments. (N.B. At its discretion, Embassy Doha may wish to set record straight with Kawari: neither Qatar nor UAE was an original recipient of Secretary’s letter.)
2. However, as result attention media have given Secretary’s message and in awareness of sensitivities of other OPEC states such as those noted in reftels, action addressees are, at their discretion, authorized to make oral approach to their host governments at appropriately high level and to leave following aide-mémoire:
3. Following standard opening: “Ever since the start of the energy crisis and the Washington Energy Conference, many governments, including the United States, have felt that it would be useful at the right time and with the right preparations to supplement the intensive bilateral consultations that now exist between oil producing and oil consuming countries with some form of multilateral dialogue.
4. “Recent discussions between the United States and France in Martinique resulted in an agreement on a possible timetable and approach to such multilateral contacts, a proposal which has now been endorsed by the members of the International Energy Agency. Under this approach there would be a four phase schedule: first, basic decisions by the consumers on conservation, development of new sources of energy and financial solidarity; second, a meeting among representatives of producers and consumers to discuss the procedures and agenda for a conference; third, intensive preparation of common positions for that conference; and fourth, the conference itself.
5. “Particular stress has been placed on the need for major energy and financial decisions by the consuming countries in advance of the proposed conference because a failed conference would be seriously detrimental to all, consumers and producers alike. That is also a view expressed by many representatives of producing countries, who have repeatedly stressed the importance of conservation of energy, the development of new sources, and financial stabilization.
6. “Although preparation among consumers is thus necessary in advance, it should be stressed that the objective is cooperation, not confrontation. It is not intended that all contacts between producers and consumers be conducted as a bloc to bloc dialogue. On the contrary, the [Page 112] United States would like to strengthen its bilateral contacts with oil producing governments over the coming months so that cooperative efforts to solve the international oil crisis can be made more effective.
7. “President Ford is now completing a series of major decisions on domestic energy policy. These decisions will be announced in January. They are expected to make a significant contribution to the solution of the world energy problem.
8. “Over the coming months, the Government of the United States looks forward to keeping in close contact on these issues with the governments of OPEC states.” Complimentary close.
9. Please report host government reactions.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, D750013–0012. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by George Q. Lumsden (NEA/ARP); cleared by Katz and in NEA, EB, ARA, and EUR; and approved by Sisco. Sent to Abu Dhabi, Doha, Tripoli, Beirut, and Quito, and repeated to Algiers, Caracas, Jakarta, Jidda, Kuwait, Lagos, and Tehran.↩
- In telegram 21 from Doha, the Embassy reported that Issa Kawari, Qatar Minister of Information, Chief of the Emir’s Office, and Acting Foreign Minister, asked “about press reports that Secretary had sent letters to five oil producing countries concerning proposed producer/consumer conference” and “expressed personal disappointment that Qatar did not rpt not receive letter.” (Ibid., D750006–0211) In telegram 47 from Abu Dhabi, the Embassy reported increasing concern that the Department was “not doing enough to give UAEG timely briefings” on “developments in U.S. policy that are of vital concern” to the UAE. The Embassy also requested “guidance which could become basis for oral briefing” to the Ministers of Petroleum and Foreign Affairs. (Ibid., D750007–0654)↩
- See Document 27.↩