106. Editorial Note
On September 9, 1961, Secretary Rusk in a memorandum to President Kennedy requested the President’s authority to raise the Consulate in Kuwait to Embassy status and head it with a Charge d’Affaires ad interim, but to defer designating an Ambassador. Rusk indicated that on September 5, the Kuwaiti Government, whose independent status the United States recognized, had requested the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Secretary noted that the newly-appointed British Ambassador to Kuwait was scheduled to present his credentials on September 12, pursuant to an agreement between the United Kingdom and Kuwait reached on August 22 to exchange Ambassadors. According to the Secretary, a number of other countries, including several from the eastern part of the Arab world, were expected to establish diplomatic relations with Kuwait in the near future.
Rusk also explained:
“In view of the close and cordial relations which we have maintained with Kuwait ever since an American Consulate was established there in 1951, and in view of the substantial American oil investment in Kuwait itself, as well as in the Kuwaiti half of the Kuwaiti-Saudi Neutral Zone, we believe that it is in our interests to accede to the Kuwaiti request promptly.” (Department of State, Central Files, 611.86D/9–961)
The White House approved Secretary Rusk’s request on September 13. (Ibid.) On September 22, the Governments of the United States and Kuwait announced that they were establishing diplomatic relations. (Telegram 207 to Kuwait, September 22; ibid., 611.86D/9–2261, and telegram 22 from Kuwait, September 22; ibid., 686D.00/9–2261) The Embassy in Kuwait was established the same day with Dayton S. Mak serving as Charge d’Affaires.