Saudi Arabia
168. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Ambassador-designate William Porter met with Clements and other Department of Defense officials to discuss programs involving the Department of Defense and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–79–0049, Saudi Arabia 000.1–399, 1976. Secret. Drafted by Fifer; approved by Noyes. The meeting took place in Clements’ office at the Pentagon.
169. Telegram From the Department of State to the United States Military Mission to Saudi Arabia
Summary: The Department directed USMTM to deliver a letter from Fish to Prince Sultan, which requested clarification about agents’ fees for services to be delivered under Peace Hawk Phase V.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760012–1045. Confidential. Drafted and approved by Dickman.
170. Paper Prepared in the National Security Council
Summary: The NSC Staff drafted a comprehensive assessment of arms sales and deliveries made, and projected, to Saudi Arabia.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for Middle East and South Asian Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 22, Saudi Arabia-Military (2). Confidential. Brackets are in the original.
171. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy requested guidance from the Department regarding Peace Hawk V and Northrop’s legal position regarding Triad and the agent’s fee included in the letter of offer to be signed with Prince Sultan on February 12.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760047–1107. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Telegram 7728 to USMTM, January 13, is Document 169. Reference telegram A was not found. The text of Fish’s letter is Document 169.
172. Intelligence Memorandum Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency
Summary: The CIA assessed Saudi foreign policy after the death of King Faisal.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DI/OCI Files, Job 79T00866A, Box 25, Folder 15. Secret; [handling restrictions not declassified]. The memorandum was prepared in the Office of Current Intelligence and coordinated within the Central Intelligence Agency. [text not declassified]
173. Memorandum From Nicholas Murphy and Jesse Lewis of the Political/Military Affairs Section, Embassy in Saudi Arabia, to the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Porter)
Summary: Murphy and Lewis informed Porter of the developing dispute between Riyadh and Amman over the amount of money Saudi Arabia was to contribute toward Jordan’s new air defense system.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan January–April. Secret; Exdis. Sent through Horan. “Seen” is written at the top of the memorandum, initialed by Porter. Attached but not published were telegrams 1023 and 1047 from Amman, February 25, reporting that King Hussein would seek a Soviet system rather than accept a $300 million system, and telegram 1063 from Amman, February 26, in which Pickering argued that Hussein was serious and recommended soliciting the Saudi view. The contract for a $300 million U.S. system was due to expire on February 29; on January 20, the DOD informed Lt. Gen. Sharif Zeid Bin Shaker, Commander of the Jordanian Armed Forces, by letter that the costs of the program through 1979 would increase from $350 million to approximately $713 million. (Ibid.) In telegram 48170 to USCINCEUR, March 2, the Department directed Horan to meet with Saudi officials on the subject of the increased costs and Hussein’s threat to seek Soviet aid. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760078–0443).
174. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Summary: After the contract deadline of February 29 expired, and as the Department of Defense attempted to scale back the plans for a Jordanian air defense system to fit the Saudi $300 million financing limit, the Department of State directed Porter to request that the Saudis delay any discussion of the project until DOD completed its review.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan January-April. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated Immediate to Amman and USCINCEUR. For telegram 48170 to USCINCEUR, March 2, see footnote 1, Document 173. Telegram 1544 from Jidda, March 1, is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760099–0409. Lewis sent Porter the telegram under an undated covering note, sent through Murphy and Horan, which reads: “The attached is an instruction from the Department to ask the SAG to delay cabinet level discussion of the Hawk missile issue. Apparently, Washington feels Hussein is serious about turning to the Soviet[s] for an air defense system. As you know, the Soviets would move into Jordan in a big way if they got such an invitation.” The deadline for an agreement for financing the missiles was later extended to April 30, according to telegram 84296 to Jidda, April 8. (Ibid., D760132–0139)
175. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Summary: Kissinger instructed Porter to discuss with the Saudis a more generous contribution to a compromise two-stage air defense project for Jordan, while the Department negotiated with King Hussein during his visit to Washington March 30–31.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan January–April. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated Immediate to Amman. Reference telegram A was not found. Telegram 2165 from Jidda, March 24, is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760111–0176. A two-stage plan for the system was first suggested as an option in telegram 1449 to Amman, March 18. (Ibid., D760102–0551) Kissinger and Hussein did not discuss the matter during the King’s visit to the United States, but Kissinger provided the King an update by letter, transmitted in telegram 94162 to Amman, April 17. (Ibid., D760147–0241)
176. Letter From the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Porter) to Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Sa’ud Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz
Summary: Porter wrote to Prince Sa’ud explaining the options for financing the Jordanian air defense scheme and asked to discuss the matter further.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan January–April. Secret. Published from a copy that bears Porter’s typed signature.
177. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Summary: Kissinger sent Prince Fahd a letter on the Jordanian air defense issue.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760147–0242. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Thomas Carolan (NEA/ARN) and Draper; cleared in PM, and DOD/ISA, and by Fish and Atherton; approved by Kissinger. Repeated Immediate to Amman. Telegrams 2622 and 2643 from Jidda, April 11, are ibid., D760137–1173 and D760138–0059, respectively.
178. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State
Summary: Porter reported on his April 20 meeting with Prince Fahd, at which he delivered Kissinger’s letter and presented U.S. concerns about the consequences of a Soviet-Jordanian air defense project.
Source National Archives, RG-84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12-5 Jordan January–April. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Porter on April 21; cleared by Murphy; approved by Porter. Repeated Immediate to Amman. Telegram 2878 from Jidda, April 20, is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760149–0315. Kissinger’s letter is Document 177. The Department approved Porter’s approach in telegram 99335 to Jidda, April 24. (National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan January–April) As reported in telegram 3008 from Jidda, April 26, a letter from King Hussein to Prince Fahd described the U.S. Hawk missile system for Jordan as “abrogated” and stated “that Jordanians would take Saudi $300 million contribution and use it wherever possible to obtain missile system.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840093–2064)
179. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State
Summary: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs arranged for Porter to meet with Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan at the end of the latter’s visit to Jidda. Hassan indicated that King Hussein believed the U.S. air defense deal to be unworkable; Porter insisted otherwise.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan January–April. Secret; Niact Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Porter; cleared by Horan; approved by Porter. Repeated Immediate to Amman. Telegram 3060 from Jidda is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760161–0093. Porter requested further guidance in telegram 3085 from Jidda, April 30, surmising that “Saudi leaders are torn by our warnings and their fears of Soviet influence in Jordan, by Jordanian tactics, and by their pride which impels them to resist what they consider to be a mixture of pressure and arrogance.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 30, Saudi Arabia–State Department Telegrams, To SecState-Nodis (11), 4/76)
180. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford
Summary: Scowcroft provided a summary memorandum and larger background paper for President Ford on the state of U.S.-Saudi relations and on Saudi relations with other regional and world powers.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 28, Saudi Arabia (11), 6/76. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. A note at the top of the memorandum reads: “The President has seen.” Ford initialed the memorandum. Attached at Tab A but not published is a June 1 paper, drafted by the NSC Staff, entitled “The Role of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, OPEC, and the International Economy.”
181. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy reported on Pickering’s meeting with Lt. Gen. Bin Shaker, at which the General relayed the Soviet offer for an air defense system for Jordan.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated Priority to Moscow, Jidda, and Tehran. Telegrams 3479 from Amman, July 1, and 3475 from Amman, June 30, are in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760254–1114 and P850107–2146, respectively.
182. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Prince Abdallah and Secretary Rumsfeld met to discuss arms for the Saudi National Guard and the general U.S.-Saudi military relationship.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–79–0049, Saudi Arabia 000.1–399 1976. Confidential. Drafted by Fifer; approved by Rumsfeld. The meeting took place at Anderson House. Prince Abdullah visited the United States July 6–20, meeting with Rumsfeld, Kissinger, and President Ford.
183. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Kissinger and Clements met with Prince Abdallah to discuss arms sales and the status of the Jordanian air defense problem.
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 209, Geopolitical File, Saudi Arabia, May 11–August 4, 1976. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Dickman. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office at the Department of State. Pickering reported on Hussein’s July 4 visit to Riyadh in telegram 3552 from Amman, July 6. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760259–1029)
184. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Ford, Kissinger, and Abdallah discussed aid to Egypt, the Middle East, the upcoming U.S. Presidential election, and the Jordanian air defense problem.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 20, Chronological File. Secret; Nodis. Brackets are in the original. The meeting took place in the Oval Office at the White House.
185. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Summary: Kissinger provided background and guidance for Porter regarding congressional opposition to the pending sale of 2,000 AIM–9 Sidewinder missiles to Saudi Arabia.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 29, Saudi Arabia—State Department Telegrams, From SecState-Nodis (6). Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Dickman; cleared by Atherton, Robert J. McClosky (H), and Vest; approved by Kissinger. In the subsequent telegram 190466 to Jidda, August 1, Kissinger instructed Porter to present the Saudis the alternative of splitting the sale in two, with half of the missiles to be sold after the elections. (Ibid.) Porter responded, in telegram 5853 from Jidda, August 28, indicating that the Saudis appeared inclined to link, in part, the sale of the missiles to oil prices, and concluded: “We appear to be heading for a ‘crunch’ which would be highly damaging to U.S. interests.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850071–2591, N760006–0540)
186. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State
Summary: In conversation with Prince Saud regarding the Jordanian air defense package, Porter proposed a streamlined procedure for Saudi FMS purchases and payments.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Porter and Murphy; approved by Porter. Telegrams 5438 from Jidda, August 8, and 196840 to Jidda, August 7, are in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760305–0477 and D760305–0402, respectively. In telegram 5822 from Jidda, August 25, Porter reported that a plan for Saudi payments had been approved by Fahd. (National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan.) Porter presented a payment plan and updated proposal to Fahd in a July 19 letter, which was accepted by Fahd on July 21, reported in telegram 5072 from Jidda, July 19. (Ibid.) In telegram 5870 from Jidda, August 28, the Embassy reported that it had received official confirmation from the Saudi Foreign Ministry. (Ibid., POL) In telegram 4511 from Amman, August 31, the Embassy reported Hussein was “obviously happy” with the U.S. system and Saudi payment schedule, and would reject the Soviet offer. (Ibid., DEF 12–5 Jordan)
187. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Summary: President Ford transmitted a letter to King Khalid, explaining the reductions in the number of Sidewinder and Maverick missiles to be sold to Saudi Arabia.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 29, Saudi Arabia—State Department Telegrams, From SecState-Nodis (6). Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Adolph Dubs (NEA); cleared by Eagleburger, Oakley, and in S/S; approved by Robinson. See also Document 185.
188. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Ford met with Prince Saud to discuss the current status of Lebanon, oil, the boycott against Israel, and other matters.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 21, Chronological File. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Oval Office at the White House.
189. Memorandum From Robert B. Oakley, Catherine Desibour, and Robert B. Plowden, Jr. of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
Summary: The NSC Staff requested that Scowcroft approve several measures to secure the approval of the Sidewinder/Maverick missile sale to Saudi Arabia.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 28, Saudi Arabia (15). Confidential. Sent for action. Max Friedersdorf concurred. Scowcroft approved Options 1 and 3, and disapproved Option 2. He wrote under the disapproval: “I want to keep the President out of it. Case is hopeless, but Humphrey is obligated to support us.” Attached, but not published, at Tab A are talking points for Option 2, a Presidential telephone call to Case. The talking points indicate that Ford, following a conversation with Javits and Case, reduced the originally proposed sale of 1,000 Sidewinders and 1,500 Mavericks to 850 and 650, respectively. Ford met with Javits and Case on August 30. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary, 8/21–31/76) Scowcroft provided Ford with talking points for that meeting. (Ibid., National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 28, Saudi Arabia (14)) Congress did not block the sale. (Congress and the Nation, vol. IV, 1973–1976, Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1977, p. 877.)
190. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Kissinger and Prince Saud met to discuss the 1976 Presidential election and arms sales.
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 209, Geopolitical File, Saudi Arabia, August 5, 1976–January 8, 1977. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s suite at the Waldorf Towers Hotel. Both men were in New York for the UN General Assembly. Brackets, except those indicating omitted text, are in the original.
191. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Clements met with Prince Sultan to discuss the possibility of F–15 sales to the Saudis, other arms agreements and delivery schedules, and operations in Yemen.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–79–0049, Saudi Arabia 000.1–399 1976. Confidential. Drafted by Fifer; approved by Clements on November 11. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Defense. This memorandum was attached as Tab D to a November 9 covering memorandum from Col. James C. Pfautz, Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for ISA, to Rear Adm. Carr. (Ibid.) Five other memoranda of conversation are included under Pfautz’s note, mainly of a technical nature, but Tab A is a transcript of a meeting with King Khalid, which is not published.
192. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy relayed information concerning Saudi attempts to discourage additional congressional action on the Arab boycott of firms doing business with Israel.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 30, Saudi Arabia-State Department Telegrams, To SecState-Nodis (15). Secret; Priority; Nodis.