308. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Release of Arms for Saudi Arabia
On the basis of recommendations of the IRG and the SIG, and in line with earlier approvals of selected arms shipments to Saudi Arabia, such as Hawk missiles, I have now authorized the release to that government of the arms listed below. These items are for purchase by the Saudi Government which, in fact, had already paid for those items so indicated before the June arms ban was imposed.
I believe that this action is in accord with our general position of continuing gradual relaxation of our arms restrictions affecting the moderate Arab states. It should be helpful in reassuring King Faisal as to our basic intentions as well as demonstrating that another Western-oriented Arab leader, in addition to King Hussain, continues to derive tangible benefit from a policy of close relations with the United States. I believe this demonstration will be particularly useful at a time when the Soviets are manifesting disturbing interest in Yemen and have indicated willingness to meet Jordan’s arms needs.
The outstanding Saudi purchase requests which I have approved are the following:
- —60 mortars and 150,000 rounds of ammunition for the National Guard (already paid for by SAG).
- —100,000 rounds of mortar ammunition, 20 recoilless rifles with 20,000 rounds of ammunition and 40,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition—all for the Saudi Army and all already paid for by SAG.
- —5 armored personnel carriers and 5 tank recovery vehicles for the Saudi Army under the SAMP Mobility Program (also already paid for by SAG).
- —18 Howitzers which the Saudis paid for in March 1966.
- —8 F-86 and 8 T-33 trainer aircraft for the fledgling Saudi Air Force.
- —100 Sidewinder missiles with kits to fit them to the F-86’s.
In addition to the foregoing, I have approved normal action on more recent Saudi requests to purchase an additional 20,000 rounds of recoilless rifle ammunition and 10-20 American helicopters on which tentative assurances were given to the Saudi Government a year ago.2
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Saunders Files, Saudi Arabia, 1/1/68-1/20/69. Secret. A January 22 covering memorandum from Rostow to Johnson commented: “King Faisal has been helpful in urging Hussein not to turn to the Russians. Keeping our military supply line open to him should help assure him that we are a reliable source of supply and give us a stronger voice in encouraging him to move in constructively behind the British as they pull out of the Persian Gulf.” A handwritten notation on the memorandum reads: “President read & put in outbox without comment, so I cleared telegram based on this memo.”↩
- Telegram 102781 to Jidda, January 23, authorized the Ambassador to inform the Saudi Arabian Government at a high level that the U.S. Government had now relaxed its arms ban vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia with respect to items on order or under consideration prior to June 1967. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, DEF 19-8 US-SAUD)↩