260. Memorandum of Conversation1
SUBJECT
- Special message from King Faisal concerning Communist activity in the Middle East
PARTICIPANTS
- The President
- Mr. Robert Komer, White House
- Mr. George C. Moore, NEA/NE
- Mr. Isa Sabbagh, USIA
Prince Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz, Saudi Arabian Minister of Defense
Ambassador al-Sowayel, Saudi Ambassador to U.S.
Ambassador Jamil Baroody, Saudi Ambassador to U.N.
The Prince expressed King Faisal’s high respect for the President and said that the King had sent him, on His Majesty’s behalf, to express his views on certain problems and to present a sealed letter.
The President opened the letter and Mr. Sabbagh translated it verbally as follows (full translation attached):2 We appreciate the great efforts you are making for the cause of peace in the world and for opposing the tide of Communism which threatens the future of the entire free world. The United States has shouldered specific responsibilities to stem this tide in Asia and Africa through its economic assistance to raise the standard of living of the various countries concerned. This is done to enable those countries to fight Communism, just as we fight it on the basis of our religion, and you fight against it as a doctrine. Communism in the Middle East aims at setting up bases in that area to advance the aims of a broad plan of world domination. In view of [Page 497] the cordial ties of traditional friendship between our two countries, I would like to exchange views with you concerning our joint efforts to halt the Communist advance. I have sent my brother to convey to you the details of these views. He has my fullest confidence.
The President said he would give the letter careful study.
The Prince said that His Majesty had wanted to come in person but that various circumstances, which he would subsequently explain, had prevented him from having this pleasure, which he would greatly look forward to at a future date. The Prince continued that a great danger was posed in the Middle East by intrigues hatched by the Communists to give them a foothold in the area. The Arabian Peninsula was particularly threatened at this time. Saudi Arabia strongly opposed Communism because of its religious principles. Thus, Faisal had sent him (the Prince) to explain certain concepts.
The Prince continued that the Arabian Peninsula had never felt the closeness of the Communist presence until the outbreak of the Yemen conflict brought it sharply to focus as an immediate danger. In the King’s view, the Communists seem to be using Nasser as an implement to carry out their aims in the area.
Last year the Government found several Communist cells in Saudi Arabia and took vigorous steps to eliminate them. However, this has not dispelled Saudi fears, in view of the strong Communist desire to establish bases in the Middle East. The King hoped the U.S. would help Saudi Arabia in its attempts to thwart these efforts.
The President said he would be glad to have the Secretary of State and Mr. Komer review the subject with the Prince and further study what the Saudis had in mind. He understood that the Prince was seeing Secretary Rusk today or tomorrow; the Secretary would be able to discuss the subject in detail.
The Prince responded that he appreciated this reasonable suggestion. He added the assurances that King Faisal continued to adhere to the sensible policies with respect to Yemen which the President had in the past suggested; and that the King would continue to exert his efforts to eradicate the Communist problem in Yemen.
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Saudi Arabia, Memos, Vol. I, 12/63-4/67. Secret. Drafted by Moore. The meeting was held at the White House. The time and place of the meeting are taken from the President’s Daily Diary. (Ibid.)↩
- Not attached; see Document 262.↩