Office of the Historian

253. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State1

Jidda, October 13, 1965, 0700Z.

287. Air Defense Purchases.

On October 12th Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Mas’ud handed me copy of letter dated October 11 and marked “Secret” from MODA Prince Sultan to Secretary of Defense McNamara.2 Mas’ud explained original of letter (in Arabic) being transmitted to DOD via Saudi Embassy Washington.

In letter Sultan refers to Secretary McNamara’s April 6 [5] letter3 and expresses his appreciation for Secretary’s interest in Saudi air defense program and for dispatch of review team to assist Saudi military in choosing best equipment for air defense of Kingdom.

Sultan then refers to joint recommendations submitted by US and Saudi members review team and states that SAG has now decided to implement these. At same time Sultan requests USG obtain ammunition for use with F104G for training, operational, and war reserve purposes. He also asks USG to supply Saudi Arabia with any additional arms now developed or to be developed for F104G such as Sparrow and Falcon missiles.

Sultan, after emphasizing friendly relations and mutual cooperation existing between USG and SAG, asks Secretary McNamara to exert his influence to reduce prices of aircraft and related equipment involved in sale, although neither dollar amount nor percentage of reduction desired specified. Sultan also seeks Secretary’s assistance in obtaining credit terms permit SAG pay for package over ten-year period in view of heavy drain on Saudi resources resulting from SAG development and reform programs in all sectors. Specifically, Sultan proposes five percent down payment at time contract signed with remaining ninety-five percent to be paid in twelve installments beginning ten months after arrival aircraft and related basic equipment in Kingdom.

Letter concludes with Sultan’s hope to receive positive reply from Secretary McNamara as soon as possible. Embassy preparing translation to be pouched October 16.

[Page 486]

Comment: Mas’ud expressed hope USG would move rapidly in servicing order. I assured him that this would be the case.

Seelye
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964-66, DEF 12-5 SAUD. Secret. Repeated to Dhahran, London, Paris, CINCSTRIKE/CINCMEAFSA, CHUSMTM Dhahran, DIAAQ, CSAF, DA, and DEFREPNAMA Paris.↩
  2. A copy of Prince Sultan’s letter is in the Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 70 A 3717, 381, Jordan, 10 Nov. 65.↩
  3. Document 241.↩