Office of the Historian

133. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State1

Jidda, April 2, 1975, 1600Z.

2386. Subject: Investigation of Faisal bin Musa’id bin Abd al-Aziz, Assassin of King Faisal.

1. [1 paragraph (7 lines) not declassified]

2. [1 paragraph (2 lines) not declassified]

3. Prince Fahd raised the same matter with me on April 1st. He also asked that the FBI conduct a full investigation of the boy’s activities in the United States; whom he had associated with, what he’d done, etc.

4. Abdullah Battal, personal assistant to the Minister of State for Internal Affairs Prince Nayif bin Abd al-Aziz, will be departing for Washington on the morning of April 3 on a mission to contact several U.S. agencies, including Immigration and Naturalization Service, FBI, CIA and appropriate local police departments in connection with the Ministry of Interior’s investigation of the assassin of King Faisal. Mr. Battal will be staying at the Madison House Hotel in Washington beginning April 4. He is American-educated, (BA from Central Missouri State College, 1968). Battal is about thirty years old, and is related by marriage to Prince Nayif. Members of the Embassy staff who are personally acquainted with Battal have found him exceptionally friendly and competent. He is very earnest about doing a good job on this assignment.

5. Action requested:

A) That I be sent the FBI report when complete for transmittal to Fahd;

B) That the Department notify the Federal agencies listed in [garble—paragraph] 4 of Battal’s arrival and request that they extend him appropriate assistance and courtesies.

Akins

  1. Summary: Akins approved the Saudi request for help with the investigation of King Faisal’s assassination.

    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; Nodis. The Saudis asked for U.S. Government help with the investigation on March 29. (Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Files, Job 80M01066A, Box 10, Folder S–34)

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