126. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia1
7265. Subject: Message from President Ford to King Faisal. For Ambassador from the Secretary.
1. Please convey following letter from President Ford to King Faisal.
2. Begin message: Your Majesty: I am writing you again so soon because I believe it essential that we remain in close touch in this period of intensive diplomatic activity in which we are now engaged to achieve further agreements on the path to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
There is much irresponsible and uninformed speculation in the world today about American policy, and I want your Majesty to have a correct picture of what our policy is. There must be no misunderstandings between ourselves and our friends in the Middle East, because misunderstandings can only erode the mutual confidence which has been so essential in our relationship and provide opportunity for those whose interests are contrary to ours to profit.
I sense from Your Majesty’s response to my last letter that you share these views. I fully reciprocate your strong desire to strengthen the friendship which exists between our two persons and countries. I also recognize that early progress toward peace in the Middle East is essential to preserve the positive results already achieved and to maintain an atmosphere in which the friendship between the United States and the Arab world can further prosper.
As I previously wrote to Your Majesty, we are determined to move forward quickly toward a new agreement that will return substantial additional territory to Arab control. Secretary Kissinger and I will be [Page 449] meeting next week with Foreign Minister Allon to impress upon him the need for Israel to cooperate in this effort. Thereafter, in response to a suggestion by President Sadat, I have agreed in principle that Secretary Kissinger should travel to the Middle East in the first part of February to seek to move matters toward a successful conclusion. We are now engaged in laying the groundwork so that such a trip by him will have a reasonable prospect of achieving the desired results, since failure to do so would constitute a serious setback to all our hopes. This will be a difficult period for us, and we will need steadfast encouragement and confidence of Your Majesty and our other friends in the area. Your forthcoming visits to Damascus and Cairo are therefore most timely.
In this connection, I have been disturbed by tendentious and misleading reports in a number of Arab countries about remarks Secretary Kissinger made recently in response to a question as to what American policy would be if faced with concerted economic warfare threatening to strangle the non-Communist industrialized world. I have been pleased to note that no such comments have emanated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Akins will have explained to Your Majesty’s government what our true policy is in this regard. In fact, Secretary Kissinger’s remarks were designed to put a stop to irresponsible talk about reckless military or political action on the price issue. I would also like to reemphasize what Secretary Kissinger told you when you last received him that the friendly relations between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. preclude military threats between us. I trust that Your Majesty will continue to use your wise influence to make clear that the United States follows responsible policies designed to bring about peace and cooperation in the world.
As we move forward on the course we have set for ourselves, I will be strengthened by Your Majesty’s words of hope that we shall succeed in attaining the just and permanent peace we all seek in the Middle East.
Sincerely, Gerald R. Ford.
End message.
Summary: Responding to Ambassador Akins’ message on the Business Week interview, the Department transmitted a letter from President Ford to King Faisal referring to the matter.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 29, Saudi Arabia—State Department Telegrams, To SecState—Nodis (3). Secret; Immediate; Cherokee; Nodis. Drafted by Atherton; approved by Kissinger. Faisal’s January 7 letter to Ford was transmitted in telegram 136 from Jidda of the same date, and concerned discussions of an energy consumer-producer conference. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850106–1424) On January 13, Akins delivered a similar message from Kissinger to Sultan, as transmitted in telegram 7266 to Jidda. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850106–2309) On January 14 the Embassy transmitted Faisal’s reply to Ford’s letter, requesting that Kissinger “set straight” U.S. policy regarding a second oil embargo “in a way which would not leave room for any misinterpretation.” (Ibid., P850014–1470) Akins’ message on Kissinger’s interview is published as Document 125.
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