138. Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to Secretary of State Kissinger1
TOHAK 29/WH50867. For Secretary Kissinger. Ref: Jidda 3586, Jidda 3588, Amman 3361.
1. As is reported in Jidda 3586, Crown Prince Fahd has turned down our invitation to visit the President in Washington on July 10 and has asked that it be put off until an indeterminate future date. This follows and may have been linked to Secretary Schlesinger’s remarks on the Issues and Answers program of May 18 and in the current edition of US News and World Report on the possible US use of military force in event of an oil embargo. Ambassador Akins is attempting to arrange a meeting between Robinson and Fahd tomorrow, May 21 despite Fahd’s reluctance to see Robinson because of Schlesinger’s remarks. Given the importance of our relations with Saudi Arabia, especially at this critical period of our reassessment and our efforts to get Saudi economic cooperation, you may want to try to smooth the ruffled feathers. Here is a suggestion Robinson could pass to Fahd, if you think it worthwhile to do something.
2. Begin message. Quote The President is concerned by the recent comments by Secretary of Defense Schlesinger on the subject of possible [Page 473] US reactions in the event of another oil embargo. The President wants it clearly understood that the United States position remains emphatically as he himself stated it on numerous occasions; that is, that the US does not presently envision the occurrence of any event which could be construed as economic strangulation. The President—in a press conference on January 21, 1975—specifically and publicly denied that the imposition of an embargo comparable to the embargo of 1973 would be tantamount to quote strangulation unquote. The President wants it understood that any discussion by US officials under present circumstances of possible US military actions in response to an oil embargo is of an extreme hypothetical nature and does not reflect his views.
The President wishes Crown Prince Fahd to know that he is strongly committed to a close and cooperative relationship with Saudi Arabia. He would welcome the views of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, on how we can move forward together to resolve the broad economic and political problems which concern our two countries. The President wishes to express his regret that the Crown Prince is unable to visit the United States at this time and hopes that they can meet in the very near future. Unquote. For Under Secretary Robinson. In transmitting the foregoing message, you can orally explain that the President will be dealing with this problem privately with his officials and believes that further public discussion would serve no useful purpose, at this time.
3. If you approve, recommend you Flash text along lines of paragraph Immediate to Embassy Jidda for Robinson and Akins.
Warm regards.
Summary: Scowcroft informed Kissinger that Prince Fahd had declined an invitation to meet with President Ford in response to Schlesinger’s remarks about possible U.S. responses to a new oil embargo.
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 208, Geopolitical File, Saudi Arabia, March 26–June 1, 1975. Secret; Nodis; Black Patch. Telegrams 3586 from Jidda, May 20; 3588 from Jidda, May 20; and 3661 from Amman, May 20, are in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850106–2359, D750176–1092, and P860035–0128, respectively. No telegram conforming to the draft Flash message was found. For Schlesinger’s comments, see Document 136.
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