213. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Katzenbach to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Appointment for the Foreign Minister of Kuwait
Recommendation:
I recommend that you receive the Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Shaikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah, brother of the Kuwaiti Prime Minister, at a time of your convenience between now and July 2. The Foreign Minister, in New York for the UNGA, has asked to call on you briefly to deliver a reply from his first cousin, the Ruler of Kuwait, to your letter to the Ruler of June 15, a copy of which is enclosed.2 If you approve, a briefing memorandum with talking points for the meeting will be submitted.3
[Page 407]Discussion:
While hewing to the Arab line on Israel, Kuwait has nevertheless played a fundamentally constructive role during the recent crisis. The Kuwaiti Government assured us privately in the early days of the crisis that it did not believe UAR charges of American and British participation in the fighting and that it had no intention of breaking relations. Oil production was shut down briefly and shipment of oil to the Continental US and UK remain banned, but full protection was given to installations of the Kuwait Oil Company (half-owned by Gulf Oil) and to American citizens residing in Kuwait. At the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting in Kuwait which immediately preceded the UNGA, Shaikh Sabah as host is understood to have played a moderate and constructive role. A brief meeting with the Foreign Minister would give you an opportunity to underscore our hope that Kuwait will continue to play a moderating role in Arab councils during the weeks and months ahead.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 7 KUW. Secret. Drafted by Korn.↩
- See Document 212.↩
- The approved option is checked.↩