158. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State1
6008. Pls pass Secretary’s party. Subject: Assignment of New Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
1. Immediately on his return to Jidda August 24, Counselor of Embassy Isa Sabbagh received word that Crown Prince Fahd wanted to see him as soon as possible. Counselor Sabbagh saw the Prince the following day in Taif.
2. Crown Prince told Counselor Sabbagh that the subject of the Ambassador’s transfer dominated the last three Cabinet meetings. He said no Saudi doubted the Kraft allegation that the United States was trying to “send a signal” to Saudi Arabia; that it intended to adopt a new hard line. But, Fahd said, if the United States thinks it will be able to bend Saudi Arabia to its wishes by this method it is mistaken.
3. Fahd said Ambassador Akins was the best Ambassador who had ever been in Saudi Arabia; and on the basis of what he had accomplished here for the United States the USG would certainly have to agree. He listed the lifting of the oil boycott, the moderate position Saudi [Page 533] Arabia had taken on oil prices, the formation of the Joint Commission, extraordinary advance of American business in the Kingdom in the last two years and American domination of the military as examples of things accomplished by Ambassador Akins.
4. Fahd said that King Faisal had given all Cabinet Ministers orders to receive the Ambassador whenever he wished (we had been told this by several other Ministers) and asked if the Ambassador had ever had trouble seeing the King, the Crown Prince, or any other Cabinet member. Counselor Sabbagh said he thought not. The Prince said the new Ambassador would have a difficult time seeing any Minister and he asked about Ambassador Porter. Mr. Sabbagh said he did not know him.
5. Ambassador Akins saw Petroleum Minister, at the Minister’s request, August 26. Yamani also asked about Ambassador Porter who, Kraft claims, is coming to Jidda. The Ambassador said he knew Ambassador Porter very well, that he was one of the best officers we had in our Foreign Service, that he would be honored to have him replace him and it would be difficult for the U.S. to choose a better man for this job or any job. Yamani said that was too bad because Ambassador Porter would not be able to function in Saudi Arabia. “He will see me only on the rarest occasion and if he ever raises the subject of oil prices, he will be declared persona non grata.”
6. The Secretary should be prepared to answer Saudi questions on the subject when he arrives.
Summary: The Embassy reported on Prince Fahd’s reaction to Akins’ removal.
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 (7). Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Also sent to Alexandria and Jerusalem, where Kissinger traveled August 22–31 to negotiate Egyptian-Israeli disengagement.
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