890F.20/9–2749: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
priority
407. MAP Legis as signed Oct 6 does not contain provision Admin originally presented Cong authorizing extension mil procurement assistance on reimbursable basis to nations whose increased ability to defend themselves against aggression important to US natl interests. [Page 1616] This provision if enacted wld have authorized Pres consider extension reimbursable assistance to SA and several other countries (Embtel 573, Sep 27).1 Childs who is thoroughly familiar with background thru conversations here plans discuss with SAG fol return Jidda. Accordingly, suggest you await Childs’ arrival before informing SAG recent development.
However, in event you are questioned by SAG re omission above provision you shld say that 1) Provision omitted only after indication enactment Legis not otherwise possible present session Cong. MAP Legis now authorizes extension mil aid to a) North Atlantic Treaty countries, which heretofore requested assistance, b) Greece, Turkey, Iran, Korea, Phil and gen area of China, and c) aid in form procurement assistance in advance cash purchases by any nation with which we are associated in collective defense and regional arrangement (thus including Rio Pact countries);
2) Mil aid to SAG continues to be objective of US policy. USG hopes to be able to carry this out by requesting at next session Cong supplementary legis providing reimbursable aid to SAG and other countries. You may assure SAG that USA is exploring every possible means providing mil aid outside MAP legis and pending outcome exploration can at least offer SAG informal guidance in contacts for commercial procurement and generally favorable export license consideration.
3) If SAG shld attempt relate MAP to extension DAB you shld emphasize that continued SAG–US cooperation at DAB represents real evidence our mutual mil interests and meanwhile will make possible further training Saudis,
- Not printed; it pointed out the difficulties that would ensue with King Ibn Saud if this provision as communicated to the King in the May 30 aide-mémoire, p. 1600, were not included in the legislation (890F.20/9–2749).↩