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February 7, 1974 - Nixon, Saudi Ambassador Al Sowayel
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1552659
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February 7, 1974 - Nixon, Saudi Ambassador Al Sowayel
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Nixon Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Saudi Arabia
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Nixon
Amb. Al Sowayel, Saudi Ambassador
Major General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy
Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
February 7, 1974
5:10 - 5:45 p.m.
PLACE:
The Map Room
The President: General Scowcroft will make notes and give you a copy
for yourself. I have written a note to His Majesty, which will be sent by
cable, and I want to give you the original. I want to put it in context.
I would like you to talk to His Majesty personally so he knows from me,
not just Secretary Kissinger. Tell him that I am talking to you as I would
to him.
First, we have the disengagement agreement. We are working with the
Syrians now, but there are prisoners and other knotty problems. We can't do
it hurriedly.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC.3
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, GUIDELINE state 3/8/04
You have my personal commitment to work for a disengagement with the
Syrians. It should be fair to the Syrians, just as the Egypt-Israel agreement
Mo/h/8
was fair to the Egyptians. It's the first time Israel has ever withdrawn.
DATE
This is a famous room. It's the Map Room. President Roosevelt used to plan
the war here, during World War II.
STATE DEPT.
What concerns me is, I know your government wants to normalize the sit-
uation, but you feel you can't get out in front of Algerians and the Syrians.
Sowayel: Or Kuwait.
President: Let me look at the big picture and see if there is a way to get it
BY
accomplished. Let me talk in terms of politics
CLASSIFIED BY Henry A. Kissinger
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SCHEDULE OF ENECUTIVE ORDER 11652
GERALD
EXEMPTION CATEGORY 5 (b) (1,3)
AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp. to det.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
-2-
I am the first President since Eisenhower who has no commitment to the
Jewish community, and I will not be swayed.
I didn't do enough in the first term, but I am determined now that the
Middle East be settled. I know His Majesty has a concern over Jerusalem.
That is a very difficult problem. Also his concern over disengagement.
I have written a commitment to 242, but that is gobbledygook. What I want
you to know is I have made a commitment. We will work out a permanent
settlement as quickly as possible. The full prestige of my office is dedicated
to that. You should know that I will catch it from some groups here.
I think "blackmail" is unfortunate. I don't think His Majesty is blackmailing
us. Whatever the embargo, I will continue to work for a just peace. I don't
know what Jerusalem will be -- you don't. You probably want more than I
can negotiate. But I will have great difficulty negotiating under the pressure.
I will have three years. My successor may be beholden to the groups here.
In summary, I want the embargo lifted. It is very important. But I will
move to get a just peace -- it will be tough.
But my efforts are being hampered and will be seriously jeopardized if the
embargo is the issue. The claim will be that we are moving only because
of pressure from the Arabs. That is what Jackson and the others say.
There is no linkage. I will continue to work and the power of my office
will be behind it. But any gesture His Majesty can make, even if he gets
pressure from his Arab friends, will help me move a settlement along.
I will not drag my feet because of the embargo, but it will make it difficult
for me to move it alone -- with Congress and the press.
Expectations were raised in the remarks I made in the State of the Union
-- which I made based on letters from His Majesty. I am on a limb -- I
have been there before -- but I want us to work together for settlement.
His Majesty has my personal commitment to work for 242 or a settlement
and my commitment to work on Israel. You know what a problem that is
in this country.
If His Majesty could help in the next few days, so it doesn't look like the
embargo is being held over our head; otherwise opinion could swing against
the Arabs. I know that is not the case, but His Majesty should know he has
a friend who will take great risks, but his movement on the embargo would
be enormously helpful in helping me now.
SECRET/NODIS
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
-3-
Sowayel: Maybe I can'go back personally to deliver the letter.
The President: Some have said to me that I should send a personal emissary.
But we are good friends and I am doing this on my own. I am editing my
letter. All this can't be put in a letter.
General Scowcroft has heard me say these things many times. I know
some Arabs have said we have promised over the years, and nothing
happened. But now, as a result of the war, it can be done, and it will be
done. This is what I want His Majesty to know.
I don't know the Syrians or Sadat. But I do know His Majesty, who is so
intelligent and has a sense of history.
Let me be candid. Gromyko was here. We are not trying to drive out the
Soviet Union and establish our own hegemony, but I think it is better if the
U.S. continues to play a role and not leave Israel the only force in the area
to counter the Soviet Union. The key to the whole problem is progress at
Geneva. I will do my best, and that is a lot, to move the Israelis.
It makes it terribly difficult to move as quickly as I want, with the em-
bargo. I understand it, but with lines at gas stations, and so on, I don't
want our people to start blaming the Arabs.
I know His Majesty can't deliver without a commitment, but if he waits
until our performance, that could be months.
Sowayel: If the U.S. could promise that if Israel would withdraw within
a specific time to the '67 line, that would be helpful.
The President: I won't promise what I can't deliver, but there will be a
settlement. I can't draw a line, but there will be a settlement. His
Majesty can hold me to my commitment. I wanted you to hear it from
me so His Majesty can convey it that I will use the full power of my office.
Sowayel: Secretary Kissinger's statement was not useful.
The President: "Blackmail" is a bad word. It should not have been used.
His Majesty is not a blackmailer. I won't link the two, but the fact is it
will make it much more difficult. It will give me clout to say: "We have
the cooperation of King Faisal, now let's get on with the settlement."
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
-4-
I would like there to be enough progress so I could visit the Middle East
in the spring -- Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel (if they behave).
We need to keep the momentum so the situation doesn't freeze.
Sowayel: I will try to go myself.
The President: This conference / the Washington Energy Conference/
will not set up a confrontation with the producers. The consumers will
just look at the problems to see what can be done to meet them.
elf-sufficiency is not designed against you. I want a world where we
would trade with you. There are two threats in the area -- the radicals
and the Soviet Union. It is in both our interests for the United States to
play a role in the Middle East to keep these two forces under control.
Sowayel: Yes. South Yemen and Iraq.
The President: Yes, the Shah said they are stirring things up in Iran
also.
Sowayel: I have been telling the General that in 1948 all of the Arabs were
friends with the United States. Since the creation of Israel, the Soviet
Union is saying the U.S. always supports Israel against us. Look at Iraq.
I was there during the revolution. Things were much better before than
afterwards.
The President: If you could go and present it to him, fine. But it would
be best if you would amplify, based on our conversation. I can't put it
all in a letter.
We can't let it get in a position where a confrontation would develop
because of the embargo. Where I would be hamstrung because of the
embargo.
I didn't do enough during my first four years, but I am personally committed
now to a settlement.
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
5:10
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DECLASSIFIED
ABSHOLT GERALD FORD
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINE State Deview3/8/04 3/8/04
BY We
NARA DATE 8/4/04
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