Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVIII, Near East, 1962–1963

265. Telegram From the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kaysen) to the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Hart)⁰

Washington, June 8, 1963.

Eyes only for Hart. The President wishes you to deliver the following message to Faysal unless in your judgment circumstances make it unwise:¹

“I am deeply moved by your message, and can understand the depth of your feeling and frustration. As you know, Soviet stalling is behind the last minute delays in sending out the UN observers whose presence would eliminate in eyes world community any possible pretext for further attacks. We are using every means of pressure and persuasion to get the UN observers on the way, and I would urge you to instruct your own people to make certain the UN understands your equal sense of urgency. There will now be an SC meeting Sunday or Monday, following which the observers will be dispatched. They are already standing by near at hand.

“My personal emissary promised you that we would send a fighter squadron as soon as disengagement was fully in effect. We do not back out on our promises, and our squadron is ready. As you know, we have already sent the advance party to prepare the way.

“In the meantime, I urge that we both press the UN to take that essential action by which this painful impasse can be peacefully resolved. (You are my friend, as I am yours. So, while I fully comprehend the affront to your dignity, you will understand when I say that a course of statesmanlike restraint until the UN can act will be the true measure of your responsible leadership of your country.) I am deeply grateful for your reiteration of personal regard. You can be completely certain of my own warm and continuing friendship for you. In that spirit and until the UN can act I urge continuation of the statesmanlike restraint which you are displaying under these trying and aggravated circumstances.”²

0. Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries, Saudi Arabia Security. Secret; Eyes Only.
1. Following renewed bombings of Saudi territory on June 8, Crown Prince Faysal wired an urgent plea that the situation had become intolerable and he could no longer depend on promises made. (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 476, NEA Correspondence, Saudi Arabia; also telegram 1049 from Jidda, June 8; ibid., Central Files, DEF 6–3 US) Kaysen and Komer forwarded Faysal’s message to Clifton for President Kennedy with a recommendation that the United States continue to withhold dispatch of the fighter squadron until U.N. observers were on the ground in Yemen, and with the text of a suggested response from Kennedy to Faysal similar to that printed here. A marginal notation on their memorandum reads: “President saw.” (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Saudi Arabia, 6/1/63–6/14/63)
2. The text printed here incorporates changes and additions proposed by Hart. These include insertion in the first paragraph of the words “eliminate in eyes world community any possible pretext for” and the addition of the last three sentences of the message. (Telegram 1050 from Jidda, June 9; Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 SAUD-UAR; a composite text is ibid., Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 476, NEA Correspondence, Saudi Arabia) Hart delivered the message in Jidda the afternoon of June 9 and stated orally that the United States had made strong representations to the UAR against its raids of Saudi territory. After reading the message, Faysal expressed his strong disappointment and referred on several occasions to the U.S. pledge to send an air squadron. (Telegram 1056 from Jidda, June 10; ibid., Central Files, POL 27 SAUD-UAR)