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1552993
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March 19, 1975 - Ford, Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem S. Al-Sabah
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1552993
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document
title
March 19, 1975 - Ford, Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem S. Al-Sabah
citationUrl
collections
Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Iraq
Kuwait
Iran
Middle East conflicts
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1552993
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19
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1975-03-19
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3
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1975
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19
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1975-03-19
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3
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1975
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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
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
WASHINGTON
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
His Excellency Salem S. Al-Sabah, Ambassador
of Kuwait
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant to
the President for National Security Affairs
DATE & TIME:
Wednesday, March 19, 1975
PLACE:
The Oval Office
President: I am delighted to have you stop by before you go home.
A1-Sabah: I am very pleased you took the opportunity to see me before I
leave. It will mean much to my country and the Amir and I will
remember it forever.
President: Please convey my best wishes to the Amir.
Al-Sabah: Thank you very much. I enjoyed my stay in your country for
four years. As I join the Cabinet I will be the American expert!
I want to raise just one thing as a friend. I think sometimes there are
some unfortunate things in our relations.
Maybe it is due to our frankness. We believe in frankness, but it has its
bad effects. But we think it is best in the long term. For example, I told
Secretary Kissinger he should go to Kuwait so those who are not your friends
cannot use it against you. He said he would come and I hope he will. He
is traveling in the Mideast, I know it is difficult and have told the Amir and the
government, but still it might be misinterpreted.
NARA, DATE 5/13/04
President: I know he wants to go and will make a maximum effort. I don't
know the odds, but the negotiations are at a crucial point. He is concentrat-
ing on that.
STATE
FORD
GERALD
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
CLASSIFIED BY Henry A. Sissinger
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 5(B)(3) 11652
EXEMPTION CATEGORY
DECLASSIFIED
ON
AUTOMATICALLY
Imp.To DeT.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
- 2 -
A1-Sabah: We wish him luck.
President: We feel we must find a common ground between Israel and Egypt
and we are doing everything we can. If there is a proper moment, I want
him to go. I hate to interrupt his concentration, but I do want him to go.
Al-Sabah: We understand. We have a vociferous parliament. I was shouted
down the first time I spoke there. So Secretary Kissinger's visit would have
a very beneficial effect. We agree with you and Secretary Kissinger going
into the Middle East with open minds trying to help. We hope you can do
something on the Syrian front as well. There are good signs between Iran
and Iraq too. All this is helpful in the Gulf.
President: What is your interpretation of the Iran-Iraq agreement? Did it
surprise you?
Al-Sabah: Yes. In the long run it may not be good for us. It's like the wolf
and the lamb. They still have their eyes on us. With the Kurds problem
solved, they may turn their eyes to the south. But it is good to solve the
border problem between them. I notice they attacked the requirement that
the Kurds have the option to be repatriated. So it is a little distressing over
the long run.
President: Is Soviet influence in Iraq strong?
Al-Sabah: I think so, because they have an agreement. But I think the U.S.
is starting to improve relations with Iraq and that is a good sign - - that they
want to balance their relations.
President: Please give my regards to the Amir. Is your replacement here?
Al-Sabah: That is a problem. My family is staying here until school is out.
So, not before June. But that is the only reason, not because I will not be
replaced.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
&
FORD
GERALD
2
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