103. Memorandum of Converstion1
PARTICIPANTS
- King Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
- Umar al-Saqqaf, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
- Prince Fahd ibn Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior
- Prince Nawwaf, Adviser
- Ibrahim al-Sowayel, Ambassador to the USA
- Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
- Ambassador James Akins
- Joseph J. Sisco, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
- Winston Lord, Director, Policy Planning Staff
- Alfred L. Atherton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, NEA
[Omitted here is material unrelated to U.S.-Saudi Arabia relations.]
King Faisal: Our policy also is identical in that we seek to have cooperation with all like-minded Arabs, our brethren. All reasonable Arabs want what you describe and therefore wish to strengthen the improvement of our relations with the US.
Secretary Kissinger: I had occasion to tell your Foreign Minister that in recognition of His Majesty’s leadership we are prepared to coordinate our foreign policy with His Majesty in the Arab world.
King Faisal: Our sincere hope is that we will be cooperating and that we will be standing solidly together looking with the same eye.
Secretary Kissinger: That is our intent. Indeed, I have instructed our Ambassador to begin talks with your Foreign Minister in this sense, especially with respect to the Emirates and the southern part of the peninsula.
King Faisal: We are certainly prepared to do so. At the same time we hope you will succeed in eradicating the problem of the dispute [Page 368] between the Arab States and Israel so that that frees us to devote all the time in the pursuit of this objective.
Secretary Kissinger: We will pursue our policy of bringing peace in the area, and simultaneously we are prepared to strengthen our relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
King Faisal: We hope and pray to God that as soon as possible He grants success to this endeavor looking toward that goal.
Secretary Kissinger: Indeed we are prepared to begin talking about long-term cooperation in the military field, in the economic field, and in the scientific field, in each of which we would be prepared for substantial cooperation with His Majesty when he thought the time appropriate.
King Faisal: We are fully prepared to move along this path with all our capability.
Secretary Kissinger: I may point out that in the military field we are painfully aware that there have been some delays in dealing with the requests and we will overcome these technical obstacles. We would be willing either to receive a Saudi Arabian military mission or to send a mission here on a substantial program, including the Navy and the Air Force.
King Faisal: Whichever you prefer.
[The King talks briefly to Prince Fahd.]
We would like to see that happen as expeditiously as possible. And for the dialogue to be effective it would be useful if both those things occurred at the same time; you would send people here and we would send them there.
Secretary Kissinger: Why do we not begin, Your Majesty, by setting a date next week through our Embassy and your Foreign Minister.
King Faisal: We are ready any time you want.
Secretary Kissinger: We will instruct our Ambassador in the very near future.
If I may say on a rather delicate thing, Your Majesty, we would not object if Your Majesty transferred some of these weapons to friendly countries, especially Egypt, to reduce Soviet influence there.
King Faisal: The Soviets are not sending to Egypt arms or anything else.
Secretary Kissinger: This is why a way must be found to keep their capability; and we have temporary domestic difficulties so we are looking for alternative routes of supply.
King Faisal: We certainly hope that at the same time relations between Egypt and the US will be such so as to preclude their even needing to say hello to the Soviet Union.
[Page 369]Secretary Kissinger: This is our strong interest. As you know, President Sadat has invited President Nixon and that would be a big step forward. The President has asked me to raise the point that he would not feel at ease coming to the Middle East without paying his respects to His Majesty.
King Faisal: We have no doubt whatever about the sincerity of President Nixon and his friendship toward us. If only these thorns could be removed so that the greatest part of the misunderstanding between the Arabs and the US would be removed. If that happens, I would get on a plane and visit the US myself.
Secretary Kissinger: The President had in mind, on a visit to the Middle East, to call on His Majesty in Saudi Arabia.
King Faisal: We would, of course, be honored if he would do that, but we would not want to impose hardship on the President and also on his safety and prestige at home. What is unfortunate indeed is that even some of our friends join along with these people trying to embarrass the President in the US, aided and abetted by the Communists.
Secretary Kissinger: That is true, but we hope that by May, when he is planning his trip, that he will have overcome his most severe difficulties.
King Faisal: We pray to God that that be so. We sincerely hope that these problems will be solved, and I beseech Almighty God to remove Communism off the chests of the whole world.
Secretary Kissinger: It is an obstacle to peace.
King Faisal: It is an obstacle in the path of peace and progress.
Secretary Kissinger: When the President’s plans are more definite, should we be in touch with Your Majesty and propose a visit to the Kingdom?
King Faisal: We have no objection whatsoever. We would welcome it.
Secretary Kissinger: He would plan in May also to visit probably Cairo and Damascus.
King Faisal: We would be delighted and proud.
Secretary Kissinger: Because, as His Majesty knows, President Nixon has a special feeling of friendship and affection for His Majesty and Saudi Arabia.
King Faisal: I have no doubt about the sincerity of the President’s feelings, and in fact I knew him for many years, since he was Vice President to Eisenhower.
Secretary Kissinger: Yes, he often speaks of this.
[Page 370]In line with the cooperation I have been describing, we are prepared to send a mission to Saudi Arabia to deal with questions of economic and technical cooperation on a long-range basis.
King Faisal: We will welcome this with the greatest pleasure.
Secretary Kissinger: With Your Majesty’s approval, I will instruct Ambassador Akins to begin talks with appropriate officials of your government.
King Faisal: I have no objection.
Secretary Kissinger: Our objective is to work with Your Majesty and to strengthen our friendship on a long-term basis.
King Faisal: These are hopes for whose success we pray.
Secretary Kissinger: We are prepared to transform them into reality in a spirit of friendship and far-sightedness.
King Faisal: These steps are bound to widen and strengthen relations between us.
[Omitted here is material unrelated to U.S.-Saudi Arabia relations.]
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Summary: Among other topics, King Faisal and Kissinger discussed the formation of an expanded economic and military relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1028, Presidential/HAK MemCons, March 1–May 8, 1974. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The meeting took place at King Faisal’s Palace. Brackets, except those indicating omitted text, are in the original. Portions of this memorandum related to the Arab oil embargo are printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969–1974, Document 332. Sisco and Saunders provided Kissinger with a briefing packet on plans for an expanded relationship with Saudi Arabia on March 2. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 207, Geopolitical File, Saudi Arabia, March 2–April 27, 1974)
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