Arms supplies

This file contains correspondence relating to:

• Sale of Thunderbird I missiles to Saudi Arabia by British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) (21)
• Minutes on the possible supply of Vigilants and Thunderbirds to Saudi Arabia (22)
• US counter-offer to supply the Saudis with the French anti-tank missile ENTAC (23)
• Deployment of a squadron of US aircraft to Saudi Arabia for training purposes (24)
• Proposal for discussions between the US and UK on arms supplies to Saudi Arabia. It includes: minutes of two meetings of the Arms Working Party (AWP) and the AWP's approval for the supply of fifty 40 mm L.70 AA guns to Saudi Arabia (25-26)
• Conversation with Mr Samson and F Pett-Ridge on the sale of Thunderbirds (27)
• State Department's concern at the possible supply of Vigilants to Saudi Arabia; a memorandum on the proposed contract for BAC to supply Vigilants to Saudi Arabia; the advice of the US Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) against the supply of Vigilants; the confirmation by Ambassador Parker T Hart of the US objection to the supply of Vigilants, and the Foreign Office's decision to approve the sale if there is a formal request; the minutes of the AWP on the export of Vigilant and Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV); and the Foreign Office's agreement to the export of Vigilant to Saudi Arabia (28-32, 37)
• Order from the Saudi Ministry of Defence with John I Thornycroft & Company Limited for patrol boats equipped with two anti-aircraft guns and torpedo side launchers and the approach by Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker & Bros to Berthon Boat Company Limited (32)
• Conversation between the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia C T Crowe and the Saudi Defence Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on the establishment of a mechanism to ascertain the genuineness of orders for military equipment and the Prince's personal enquiry on the supply of Thunderbird and radar equipment; a request by the Saudi Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs for anti-aircraft equipment; and instructions to Ambassador Crowe in response to the Vice-Minister's request (33, 38-39)
• Saudi Ministry of Interior's acceptance of a tender by Abdulla Saeed Bugshan & Brothers for the supply of 23 patrol boats to be built by Whittingham & Mitchel Limited (34)
• Minutes of the Strategic Exports (Official) Committee on the export of Thunderbird I; and minutes on the agenda for the committee's meeting on 30 May 1963 (35-36)
• Conversation between Ambassador Crowe and Geoffrey Edwards on arms contracts (40)