Political relations: UK

This file relates to relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia. It contains correspondence concerning:

• Conversation between Saudi Ambassador Sheikh Hafiz Wahba and Minister of State George Thompson on 27 January. Topics of discussion include: the Arab League's efforts to include Buraimi on the agenda at the UN; the question of King Saud hosting an Islamic conference; the situation in Yemen; and King Saud's talks with South Arabian leaders (1)
• Conversation between Hafiz Wahba and E M Rose (3)
• Conversation between Hafiz Wahba and Thompson on 18 February. Topics of discussion include press reports that Britain will withdraw from Aden in 1968, and Saudi concern that President Gamal Abdul Nasser is not respecting the Jeddah Agreement (4-5)
• Britain's decline of Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud's request for the secondment of an RAF fighter squadron in the event of a renewed air attack on Saudi territory following another outbreak of hostilities in Yemen. Britain is willing to supply aircraft and equipment to maintain lucrative commercial deals (6, 12-17, 20)
• Account from King Faisal of recent negotiations on Yemen and Nasser's proposals (7)
• British newspaper reports that the Anglo-Saudi arms deal could be scuppered by an apparent snub of Prince Sultan who travelled via economy class while Princess Margaret travelled first class on the same aircraft; and Italian press reaction (10-11)