Political relations: UK: resumption of relations

This file relates to the resumption of UK-Saudi Arabian relations. It contains correspondence concerning:

• The informing of various countries prior to the announcement of the resumption of relations, including: Kuwait; Sweden, and in particular Herbert de Ribbing; the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman; the United Arab Republic (UAR), and in particular President Gamal Abdul Nasser; the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO); NATO; France; and Syria (1, 3, 9, 14, 16)
• Various HMG officials’ discussions with Sheikh Hafiz Wahba over the resumption of relations. It includes: the drafts of the announcements of both HMG and Saudi Arabia; the timing of the announcement; and his conversation with the Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home (2-3, 5, 7, 11-13, 15)
• The consultation with the British Ambassador to Lebanon M Crosthwaite on UK-Saudi relations and the lessons to be learnt from HMG’s previous relations with the UAR and the Yemen Arab Republic (4)
• The Saudi press coverage of Anglo-Saudi relations, and an article on the appointment of the new British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia C T Crowe in The Times (6, 16)
• The question of Buraimi, and the decision to deal with it at the UN (7, 17)
• HMG’s talking points in Cabinet and at posts abroad on Anglo-Saudi relations, and the final text of HMG’s announcement (8, 19)
• The communication with Prince Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud over the resumption of relations, and the draft communique to be released (10)
• HMG’s expression of thanks to Pakistan for the protection of the interests of British subjects in Saudi Arabia while relations were severed (18)
• The efforts of the Saudi Ambassador to Iran Sheikh Hamzah Ghows to persuade the Saudi Government to re-establish relations with the UK (18)
• The final text of the announcement from the Saudi Government (20).