31. Telegram From the Embassy in Kuwait to the Department of State

Summary: Kuwaiti officials briefed Ambassador Stoltzfus on an Iraqi attack on two border stations. Stoltzfus recommended that the United States not involve itself directly in the dispute.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Jidda, London, Manama, Muscat, Sana’a, Tehran, USCINCEUR, COMIDEASTFOR, and USUN. Telegrams 872 and 873 from Kuwait City, March 20, are ibid. Additional documentation is in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXVII, Iran; Iraq, 1973–1976, Documents 210 and 213.

32. Telegram From the Embassy in Kuwait to the Department of State

Summary: Ambassador Stoltzfus reported on his meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, at which Stoltzfus explained the U.S. reaction to the Iraqi incursion and urged al-Sabah to consider joining with other Gulf states for mutual protection.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Secret. Repeated to Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, London, Manama, Muscat, Moscow, and Sana’a. The archived record of the telegram is misdated March 13.

33. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Kuwaiti Ambassador Salim al-Sabah met with Deputy Secretary of Defense Clements to discuss military supply, the recent Iraqi incursion into northern Kuwait, and possible U.S. support for Kuwait.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–73, Box 2432, POL Kuwait, 1/1/1970. Secret. Drafted by James H. Timberlake (OASD/ISA/NESA); approved by Eagleburger on April 18.

34. Memorandum from Harold H. Saunders and William B. Quandt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Summary: After the approval in principle to sell F–4 Phantom fighters to Saudi Arabia, the NSC analyzed the desirability of approving a similar proposal for Kuwait, linking the possible sale of the F–4 to the recent Iraqi border incursion and potential Israeli and Congressional opposition to arms sales to the Middle East.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 180, Geopolitical File, Middle East Chronological File, July 2, 1973–September 4, 1973. Secret; Nodis. Sent for action. Kissinger did not select an option for the recommendation. Instead, he wrote: “Let me think—Raise again next week,” at the top of the memorandum. Attached but not published are May 18 and June 7 memoranda from Eliot recommending White House approval of a draft telegram to the Embassy approving the sale of the F–4 to Kuwait. Also attached is the draft telegram. This memorandum and its attachments were attached to a later July 30 memorandum on the same subject, published as Document 35. For the record of the approval of the sale of the F–4 to Saudi Arabia, see Document 87.

35. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders and William B. Quandt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Summary: The NSC summarized a discussion among the Department of Defense, the White House, and the Embassy in Kuwait regarding the Kuwaiti desire for an air defense fighter, the recent decision to sell the F–4 Phantom fighter to Saudi Arabia, and Israeli concerns about U.S. weapons sales to Arab countries. Saunders and Quandt recommended that Kissinger approve a follow-on aircraft in principle without specifying the F–4.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 180, Geopolitical File, Middle East Chronological File, July 2, 1973–September 4, 1973. Secret. Sent for action. Brackets are in the original. Kissinger initialed his approval with the proviso that the FYI passage was dropped. Attached but not published is Scowcroft’s August 1 memorandum, directing Pickering to draft a telegram to the Embassy including the approved language. Tab A, a July 12 memorandum from Clements to Kissinger urging the approval of an offer in principle to provide a new fighter to Kuwait and proposing the language approved by Kissinger, is attached but not published. Tab B is published as Document 34. See also Document 89.

36. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Kuwait

Summary: The Department transmitted to the Embassy the approval in principle to provide a follow-on aircraft for Kuwait.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 620, Country Files, Middle East, Kuwait, Volume I. Secret; Immediate. Drafted on August 2 by Dickman; cleared by Atherton, Tarr, Clements, Saunders, and Spiers and in NEA/IAI and NEA/IRN; approved by Sisco. Telegram 1369 from Kuwait City, April 20, is in National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Telegrams 1371 and 2053 from Kuwait City, were not found.

37. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Emirates to the Department of State

Summary: Embassy Economic Officer Nathanial Howell met with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmad Khalifa al-Suwaydi, primarily to discuss any UAE response to a possible oil embargo against the United States by other Arab powers.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 632, Country Files, Middle East, Trucial States. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Kuwait City, Jidda, Manama, Tripoli, Cairo, and Algiers. Telegrams 1196 from Abu Dhabi, August 27, and 10224 from Beirut, August 29, are in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number].

38. Telegram From the Embassy in Bahrain to the Department of State

Summary: Chargé d’Affaires Stein met with Amir Isa ibn Salman al-Khalifa to discuss the recent cancellation of the U.S.-Bahrain agreement stationing the Middle East Force in Bahrain. The Amir indicated that the cancellation, made during the Arab-Israeli war in October, would be reversed.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 632, Country Files, Middle East, Trucial States. Secret. Repeated to Jidda, Kuwait City, London, Tehran, COMIDEASTFOR, the Secretary of Defense, and CINCUSNAVEUR. Telegram 698 from Manama, November 8, is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohmmad al-Khalifa notified the United States of the cancellation on October 20 as part of the Arab response to the U.S. resupply of Israel, asking for MIDEASTFOR’s departure within 1 year. (Telegram 671 from Manama, October 20; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])

39. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Summary: The NEA Bureau prepared a paper for Kissinger that discussed possible methods of applying pressure to Kuwait to end its oil embargo against the West and concluded that the U.S. had very limited means of doing so.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–73, Box 2432, POL Kuwait, 1/1/1970. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Drafted on November 23 by Dickman.

40. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Emirates to the Department of State

Summary: Chargé d’Affaires Philip Griffin reported on a meeting with Yemeni Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Qubati regarding potential difficulties with the scheme for the UAE to purchase U.S. arms for the Yemen Arab Republic.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 632, Country Files, Middle East, Trucial States. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Kuwait City, Sana’a, and Jidda.

41. Memorandum From the Secretary of the Navy (Warner) to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger

Summary: Secretary Warner advocated a search for alternative sites for MIDEASTFOR.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD Files: FRC 330–78–0001, Middle East 092 (July–December 1973). Secret. Attached but not published are the proposal letter to the Secretary of State and the proposed telegram, the latter of which was not transmitted. The Navy study of alternative sites viewed Iranian ports at Bandar Abbas and Kharg Island as the most desirable. (Washington National Records Center, OASD Files: FRC 330–78–0011, Indian Ocean 323.3 (April–December 1974)) NSSM 110 and minutes of the Senior Review Group meeting discussing it are in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970, Documents 54 and 58.

42. Airgram From the Embassy in Kuwait to the Department of State

Summary: Ambassador Stoltzfus provided for the Department a current summary of Qatari governance and politics in preparation for the posting of a new resident Ambassador to Doha.

Source: National Archives, RG 84, Doha Embassy Files: Lot 79F187, POL 1–3, Qatar. Confidential. Drafted by DCM John Wheelock; cleared by Stoltzfus; approved by DCM Walter McClelland.

43. Telegram From the Embassy in Bahrain to the Department of State

Summary: The Amir assured Twinam that MIDEASTFOR would stay in Bahrain, provided Bahrain had legal jurisdiction over offenses by U.S. Navy personnel committed in Bahrain.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 632, Country Files, Middle East, Trucial States. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated to COMIDEASTFOR; repeated Immediate to CINCUSNAVEUR, CNO, DOD/ISA; and repeated Priority to Kuwait City.

44. Telegram From the Embassy in Bahrain to the Department of State

Summary: Twinam reported that Iran had supported Bahrain’s retention of MIDEASTFOR in conversations with the Amir, noting Kuwait’s continued opposition to the flotilla’s presence in Bahrain.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 632, Country Files, Middle East, Trucial States. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated Immediate to Kuwait City. Telegram 514 from Manama, July 16, is in National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740190–0536. See Document 45.

45. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State

Summary: Akins reported on a conversation with Prince Fahd regarding Saudi support for the retention of MIDEASTFOR in Bahrain.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 631, Country Files, Middle East, Volume VI, Saudi Arabia, May 1974–. Secret; Cherokee; Nodis. Telegrams 4072 from Jidda, July 15, and 3967 from Jidda, July 10, are in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740188–1027 and D740184–0358, respectively.

46. Telegram From the Embassy in Bahrain to the Department of State

Summary: Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammad al-Khalifa informed the United States officially that MIDEASTFOR could remain in Bahrain under certain conditions, including the creation of a U.S. technical assistance mission. Twinam ascribed the Bahraini change of position to recent U.S. successes in the resolution of the 1973 October War.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 632, Country Files, Middle East, Trucial States. Secret; Niact; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated Priority to Tehran, Cairo, London, Kuwait, Jidda, Abu Dhabi, and COMIDEASTFOR. In telegram 163984 to Manama, July 28, the Department authorized the Embassy to officially request Bahrain to reconsider the termination notice. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740204–1081)

47. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Iran (Helms) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)

Summary: Ambassador Helms alerted the White House of several possible risks inherent in Ambassador Sterner’s approach to Shaikh Zayid of the United Arab Emirates.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Backchannel Messages, Box 4, Middle East/Africa, Incoming, September 1974. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. In telegram 1252 from Abu Dhabi, September 15, Sterner accepted in principle a request from Shaikh Zayid to “do some missionary work” with the other Shaikhs of the United Arab Emirates “in a low-key fashion as the opportunities present themselves” to encourage the strengthening of U.A.E. internal structures. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740258–0335)

48. Telegram From the Embassy in Bahrain to the Department of State

Summary: The Embassy reported on Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Sober’s visit to Bahrain to negotiate an agreement for the retention of MIDEASTFOR.

Source: National Archives, RG 84, Manama Embassy Files: Lot 79F118, POL 15, Bahrain Government. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to Jidda, Tehran, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City, Sana’a, COMIDEASTFOR, and London.

49. Telegram From the Embassy in Qatar to the Department of State

Summary: The Embassy informed the Department that Qatar decided not to allow the U.S.S. LaSalle, the MIDEASTFOR flagship, to visit Doha in retaliation for Secretary Kissinger’s interview in Business Week.

Source: National Archives, RG 84, Doha Embassy Files: Lot 79F187, POL 7, Visits. Confidential; Limdis. Repeated Priority to COMIDEASTFOR; repeated to Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Jidda, Manama, Muscat, and Tehran. Telegram 55 from Doha was not found. Telegram 59 from Doha, January 18, is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750020–0555. For additional documentation on the Business Week interview, see Documents 125 and 126.

50. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Secretary of Defense Schlesinger met with Kuwaiti Ambassador Salim al-Sabah to discuss the possibility of U.S. intervention in the Gulf, arms supply, Soviet influence, the situation in the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, and other topics.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–78–0038, Kuwait 000.1–333, 1975. Secret. Drafted by Sick; approved by Ellsworth on February 8. The meeting took place in Schlesinger’s office. On Kissinger’s Business Week interview, see Documents 125 and 126.

51. Letter From the Ambassador to Bahrain (Twinam) to the Director of the Office of Regional Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, Department of State (Palmer)

Summary: Twinam provided an analysis of current and proposed U.S. policy initiatives toward the Gulf states.

Source: National Archives, RG 84, Manama Embassy Files: Lot 79F118, POL 15, Bahrain Government. Secret; Official-Informal; Nodis Attachment. A copy was sent to Dickman. The Livingston-Wiley-Placke report is not further identified.

52. Telegram From the Embassy in Bahrain to the Department of State

Summary: The Embassy reported on Deputy Secretary of Defense Clements’ meeting with the Amir and members of the Bahraini Cabinet on a variety of topics, including MIDEASTFOR.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750134—1067. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Also sent to the Department of Defense. Repeated Priority to Jidda and Sana’a.

53. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Emirates to the Department of State

Summary: The Embassy recommended that the Department invite President of State Shaikh Zayid ibn Sultan Al-Nuhayan of Abu Dhabi to visit the United States in order to strengthen relations with the United Arab Emirates.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia 1974–77, Box 32, Trucial States, State Department Telegrams, To SecState—Nodis. Confidential; Nodis. In telegram 127936 to Abu Dhabi, June 2, the Department postponed Ambassador Sterner’s request because of the additional invitations a Gulf ruler’s visit would necessitate. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P860035–0794)

54. Telegram From the Embassy in Qatar to the Department of State

Summary: The Embassy reported that Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger’s recent comments in Qatar on possible U.S. intervention in the region in the event of another oil embargo were received poorly.

Source: National Archives, RG 84, Doha Embassy Files: Lot 79F187, POL, Political Affairs and Relations 1975. Limited Official Use. Drafted and cleared by Ambassador Paganelli. Repeated to Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, Kuwait, Damascus, Manama, Muscat, and Tehran. Schlesinger’s May 18 interview on ABC “Issues and Answers” program was reproduced in telegram 116290 to multiple posts, May 21:

Q: “[W]ould we peacefully go along with [another] embargo as we did last time?”

A: “Well, as I have indicated before, we might be less tolerant of such an embargo than we have been.”

Q: “But in your view military action against the Arab World could still be a viable option if there were an oil embargo?”

A: “I think that it could be achieved but we regard that as a very improbable event in the first place and it certainly is not an option that is attractive on its face, save in desperate circumstances.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])

For additional material on Schlesinger’s interview, see Documents 22, 130, and 136.

55. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Qatar

Summary: The Department informed the Embassy that the United States was prepared to authorize the sale of military equipment to Qatar.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750190—1087. Secret. Drafted by G. Quincy Lumsden, Jr. (NEA/ARP); cleared by Sober, Dickman, and Atherton, and in NEA/RA, PM, L/NEA, DOD/METG, and NSC; approved in P by Sisco. Repeated to Jidda, Tehran, Kuwait City, Manama, Abu Dhabi, and Muscat. Telegrams 104007 to Doha, May 3, and 546 from Doha, May 12, are ibid., D7501156–0366 and D750165–0498, respectively. Telegram 503 from Doha was not found. On U.S. policy on arms sales, see Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXIV, Middle East Region; Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970, Documents 119 and 120.

56. Telegram From the Embassy in Bahrain to the Department of State

Summary: The Bahraini Government informed the Embassy that MIDEASTFOR would be allowed to remain only until June 1977, noting the domestic political, regional, and diplomatic costs of the U.S. Navy’s presence.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750220–0521. Secret; Immediate. Repeated immediate to CINCUSNAVEUR, DOD, the Secretary of Defense, CNO, and COMIDEASTFOR; repeated to Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jidda, Kuwait City, Muscat, and Tehran. According to telegram 115851 to CINCPAC, May 17, Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammad Al-Khalifa informed the Embassy that his government was “totally satisfied” with negotiations to extend the U.S. presence, but complained of parliamentary opposition. (Ibid., D750174–1189) The Embassy discussed the Bahraini Parliament’s opposition in telegram 528 from Manama, May 5. (Ibid., D750157–0407, D750158–0019)

57. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Emirates to the Department of State

Summary: Ambassador Sterner argued that MIDEASTFOR should be allowed to retire without an attempt to find an alternative home port in the Gulf.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750263–1184. Confidential; Limdis. Repeated to Jidda, Dhahran, Sana’a, Muscat, Doha, Manama, Kuwait City, Tehran, London, Paris, CINCUSNAVEUR, and USUN. With the exception of the Embassy in Sana’a, which responded in favor of MIDEASTFOR in telegram 2164, August 6, (ibid., D750271–0766) all of the Gulf states Embassies concurred with Sterner’s assessment. (Telegram 884 from Muscat, August 5; (Ibid., D750269–0739) telegram 894 from Manama, August 2; (Ibid., D750267–0894) and telegram 939 from Doha, August 2 (RG 84, Doha Embassy Files: Lot 79F187, POL, Political Affairs and Relations 1975))

58. Telegram From the Embassy in Bahrain to the Department of State

Summary: The Embassy considered options regarding Bahrain’s demand that MIDEASTFOR leave by 1977.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750266–0028. Secret; Niact Immediate. Repeated Immediate to COMIDEASTFOR, USCINCEUR, CINCUSNAVEUR, CNO, and the Secretary of Defense. Telegrams 879 from Manama, July 30, and 884 from Manama, July 31, are ibid., D750263–0297 and D750264–0474, respectively. Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammad al-Khalifa officially notified the Embassy of the decision to terminate the naval basing agreement on August 12, according to telegram 948 from Manama of the same date. (Ibid., D750278–0587)

59. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Ellsworth and other Department of Defense officials met with Ambassador Twinam to discuss MIDEASTFOR.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–79–0040, Folder BA–1, Bahrain General and Miscellaneous Items. Secret. Drafted by Col. Robert Burch (OASD/ISA/NESA); approved by Ellsworth on August 22. The meeting took place in Ellsworth’s office.

60. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Sisco) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Summary: Reacting to U.S-Bahraini negotiations on MIDEASTFOR’s retention in Bahrain, Sisco provided Kissinger several policy options, along with recommendations from the Departments of State and Defense.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Country Files for Middle East and South Asia, 1974–77, Box 32, Trucial States (2). Secret. Kissinger did not express a preference from among the four alternatives. Sisco signed above his typed signature. Attachment 1, not found, is a copy of the Bahraini letter of August 12. See Document 58. Attachment 2, not published, is a draft joint U.S.-Bahraini statement acknowledging the termination of the MIDEASTFOR basing agreement. Also attached, but not published, is guidance for press questions on the termination. See Document 75. For further developments, see Documents 61 and 71.