130. Letter From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Packard)1
Dear Dave:
As you may know, Secretary Rogers has invited Prince Fahd bin Abd al-Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia, to be his official guest in Washington October 13–15. Because of the importance we attach to our relations with Saudi Arabia, Prince Fahd will be received with most of the courtesies normally extended to an official guest of the United States Government. He will stay at Blair House, be the Secretary’s guest at a formal dinner at the Department, and give a return luncheon for the Secretary. He will also be received by the President who recently sent a warm letter to King Faisal expressing his pleasure that the Prince’s forthcoming visit will provide an opportunity for a full exchange of views on matters of mutual interest to our two countries.2
We attach particular significance to the visit at this time in view of the strains placed on USG–Saudi relations by the rising tensions of the Arab-Israeli dispute. The major American stake in Saudi oil, the [Page 408] benefits this brings us in terms of balance of payments support, and our continuing reliance on long-term Saudi overflight and landing privileges for the USAF at Dhahran (currently these average over 520 flights per year), have not so far been affected. But our close ties with the Saudis are beginning to deteriorate as a result of what they regard as our “neglect” of the Arabs and our support of Israel. The Saudis are also disturbed over the recent military take-overs in the Sudan and Libya3 and see themselves as being increasingly encircled by “Communist” or pro-Soviet radical nationalist regimes while the US in their view does nothing to support its moderate Arab friends. We hope to counteract some of this attitude through Prince Fahd’s visit and thus to reassure the King and Saudis generally that we continue to attach importance to our ties with Saudi Arabia.
Already the third-ranking Saudi official, Prince Fahd has assumed many of the responsibilities for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Saudi government. While the Crown Prince is expected eventually to succeed to the throne, it is Fahd whom most observers calculate will wield the real power, perhaps as Prime Minister. A power in his own right, Prince Fahd is also the elder brother of Saudi Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Sultan, with whom we enjoy a close working relationship. A US Military Training Mission has been assisting the Saudi Army, Navy, and Air Force since 1953 and the Chief of that Mission serves as principal military advisor to Prince Sultan. The US Army Corps of Engineers is engaged, on a reimbursable basis, in various construction projects on behalf of the Saudi Armed Forces. US sales of military services and equipment to Saudi Arabia have averaged $33 million annually, taken over a period of years. Any courtesies or hospitality extended to Prince Fahd during his visit by the Department of Defense would, I am sure, be fully appreciated by Prince Sultan. Prince Fahd himself has served as Acting Minister of Defense in his brother’s absence and on these and other occasions has proved helpful to the US military, e.g., in cutting through Saudi red tape to arrange overflight clearances on an urgent basis.
[Page 409]I therefore would like to solicit the cooperation of the Department of Defense in making Prince Fahd’s visit to the US a success. Specifically, we would like your help in the following ways:
- —As the result of informal discussions with Ambassador Eilts, we believe it would be most useful if Prince Fahd could be received with appropriate military honors at one of our major installations. Specifically, we would hope DOD could arrange a visit to Ft. Bragg on the afternoon of October 16. Saudi Arabia is in the CINCSTRIKE/CINCMEAFSA area, and General Throckmorton has scheduled a visit there in late October, at which time he will no doubt be received by Prince Sultan. We therefore think it would be particularly appropriate if General Throckmorton could be at Ft. Bragg to receive Prince Fahd and host a dinner in his honor. I hope with your help that it will be possible to work this out.
- —We also believe it would be most useful for the Secretary of Defense or yourself to extend hospitality to the Prince during the Washington portion of his visit. A small luncheon given by the Secretary in Prince Fahd’s honor would, I know, be deeply appreciated.
- —In view of the Prince’s high rank, the great interest of the US Government in his visit, and the need to facilitate adequate security (a five-man Department of State security detail will accompany the Prince throughout his stay in the US), it would be highly desirable for the Prince’s party to have US Government transportation at its disposal during the private portion of his visit October 16–20. The Prince’s itinerary for this portion of the visit is not yet firm but we anticipate that, in addition to the proposed visit to Ft. Bragg, he will visit Cape Kennedy, Santa Barbara, and New York City. Certainly in traveling from Washington to Ft. Bragg and Cape Kennedy the Prince should fly in an official aircraft. I would appreciate your reaction to the possibility of a suitable Air Force plane being placed at the Prince’s disposal.
I very much hope your people can be helpful on this, Dave. Details can of course be worked out between appropriate DOD officers and our NEA Bureau.
With all best wishes,
Sincerely,
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 SAUD. Limited Official Use. Drafted on September 11 by Wrampelmeier and cleared by Brewer, Sisco, and in draft by Mosbacher (S/CPR).↩
- The text of the letter is in telegram 147458 to Jidda, August 30. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 761, Presidential Correspondence 1969–74, Saudi Arabia King Faisal 1969) Faisal’s reply is ibid., Box 1245, Saunders Files, Visit of Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia, Oct. 13–15, 1969.↩
- On September 1 the Free Officers Movement, headed by the 12-member Revolutionary Command Council, overthrew the government of King Idris. Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi became de facto head of Libya. Saudi concerns regarding Libya are described in telegrams 3029, September 1, and 3081, September 7, from Jidda. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 LIBYA) Saudi concerns regarding Sudan are described in telegram 114536 to Khartoum, July 10 (ibid., POL SAUD–US), and telegram 2317 from Jidda, July 9. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 629, Country Files, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Vol. I)↩