Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXI, Near East Region; Arabian Peninsula

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

Jidda, September 7, 1967, 1392Z.

959. 1. In absence Saqqaf who is on leave in Beirut, Acting Deputy Foreign Min Mas’ud asked me call today. He handed me letter from King Faisal² in Taif to President Johnson. Translation prepared by EmbOff follows (non-essential words omitted):

“His Excellency President Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States of America.

Dear Mr. President:

In light decisions Arab summit conference held in Khartoum, Sudan, between August 29 and September 1, 1967, permit me, Mr. President, to explain my views to Your Excellency in all sincerity, since I firmly desire preservation and strengthening of existing friendship between our two countries, and since Your Excellency has encouraged me to present my views on course of events whenever I find reason to do so and assured me that Your Excellency would give them most serious attention.

Arab summit conference issued wise and courageous decisions which as whole indicate how well Kings and Presidents Arab states and their representatives appreciate responsibility placed upon their shoulders with regard their peoples and future their nation following latter’s injury at Zionist hands, in defiance decisions of UN and flouting spiritual and humanitarian values proclaimed in its Charter.

In reviewing decisions of conference, two important decisions arrest our attention:

(1) Resumption flow of oil to all countries of world.

(2) Removal effects of aggression: that is, return to situation existing before June 5, 1967. This means it is possible for Arab states study any proposal from which following four points are excluded:

Reconciliation with Israel, recognition of her, negotiation with her, or any thing prejudicial to right Palestinian people to their homeland. Mr. President, it was not easy to arrive at this courageous and constructive step in conditions, of which Your Excellency can appreciate the gravity, where a wave of emotional agitation had taken possession of Arab peoples as result open Zionist aggression, after paralysis of UN in reacting to it and punishing its perpetrators, after the silence of the world’s conscience in deterring it and doing justice to those who fell victim to it, all of which made leaders of Arab countries unable stand before violent popular current but were obliged conform to it in many of their actions.

Permit me to say, Mr. President, that decisions Arab summit conference were highly constructive. Door has been opened for Western camp to reconsider its hardened position, so as enable its friends among Arabs to persuade hot-headed Arab peoples that the West, and those who travel in its orbit, are not standing against them in their dispute with Israel, and in order give leaders Arab countries opportunity proceed to further constructive step toward producing just solution to problem. I can declare to Your Excellency that situation has now become propitious for arriving at prompt and rapid solution acceptable to Arabs, provided four points I set forth above are left aside. But should solution be delayed, pressures will return intensified and permeate the entire Arab world. Then solution would become impracticable and your friends would be unable control feeling of bitterness among Arab peoples toward position of Western camp concerning their cause. Other side would seize upon this as means of confusing thoughts and spreading anarchy.

I furthermore consider that it not in interest of United States of America to regard attitude of certain Arab countries toward it as reason stand against Arabs on issue which every Arab considers vital to himself.

Question of Yemen was discussed in Khartoum in ancillary meetings between myself and President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Together we arrived at agreement which we believe this time to be final, God willing.

In conclusion I send Your Excellency my sincere wishes for health and happiness and for our friends people of United States of America all progress and prosperity.

Your friend,

Faisal

1. Jumad al-Thuni 1387, corresponding to September 6, 1967.”

2. Signed Arabic original will be pouched under cover airgram for White House records.³

Eilts

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 7 SUDAN. Secret; Priority; Exdis.
2. A copy of Faisal’s letter was transmitted to the President under cover of a September 9 memorandum from Rostow that reads: “Herewith a letter to you from King Faisal, which reports that the oil will be moving; but is pretty stiff-backed on any relations with Israel. Although it sounds like a stone wall, there is maneuver room for a formula which would include:—an end to belligerence; and—a refugee settlement.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, Saudi Arabia—Presidential Correspondence)
3. President Johnson’s reply, September 25, is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, volume XIX.