Office of the Historian

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

Jidda, August 9, 1976, 1500Z.

5482. Subject: Jordan Air Defense. For the Secretary from Ambassador. Ref: (A) State 196840; (B) Jidda 5438.

1. I was summoned today at 1300 to meet with Foreign Minister Prince Saud who immediately began to lament the lack of progress we had been able to make in solving the question of financing of the Jordan air defense package. Since he had raised the subject and since I had been authorized to do so, I broached with him the method of payment proposed reftel A which would regard all Saudi payments for all FMS cases as a single entity, including the Jordanian Hawk purchase. I gave Prince Saud a paper on the subject that I had brought with me to the meeting in the event it seemed appropriate to make the proposal without awaiting the comments on alternative financing suggestions requested reftel B.

2. Prince Saud expressed great satisfaction at our proposal, and said that as far as he was concerned this should solve the problem and enable us to conclude the matter. He said, however, that he would have to get the views of others concerned (no doubt MinDef Prince Sultan). He said that he would be back to me tomorrow with the official SAG response.

3. COMMENT: Saud’s reaction was extremely positive. I hope that Prince Sultan will share his enthusiasm. Despite his intentions, it might not be possible for Prince Saud to give me an official response by tomorrow. Sultan is in Abha preparing for the King’s visit to that region and it might therefore take more time than that to get his views.

Porter

  1. Summary: In conversation with Prince Saud regarding the Jordanian air defense package, Porter proposed a streamlined procedure for Saudi FMS purchases and payments.

    Source: National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Porter and Murphy; approved by Porter. Telegrams 5438 from Jidda, August 8, and 196840 to Jidda, August 7, are in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760305–0477 and D760305–0402, respectively. In telegram 5822 from Jidda, August 25, Porter reported that a plan for Saudi payments had been approved by Fahd. (National Archives, RG 84, Jidda Embassy Files: Lot 79F80, DEF 12–5 Jordan.) Porter presented a payment plan and updated proposal to Fahd in a July 19 letter, which was accepted by Fahd on July 21, reported in telegram 5072 from Jidda, July 19. (Ibid.) In telegram 5870 from Jidda, August 28, the Embassy reported that it had received official confirmation from the Saudi Foreign Ministry. (Ibid., POL) In telegram 4511 from Amman, August 31, the Embassy reported Hussein was “obviously happy” with the U.S. system and Saudi payment schedule, and would reject the Soviet offer. (Ibid., DEF 12–5 Jordan)

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