Visit of David Owen, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to Saudi Arabia, 12-13 May 1977

This file relates to the visit of the Foreign Secretary David Owen to Saudi Arabia and Iran in May 1977 for the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) ministerial meeting. It contains correspondence concerning:

• The proposed dates in April of a visit to Tehran, Damascus, Cairo and Riyadh by the Foreign Secretary; and the postponement of these plans at the insistence of the US to move the CENTO meeting into May
• The programme, itinerary, composition of the party, and travel arrangements for the visit
• The lines to take at the CENTO meeting, particularly on the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea
• The proposed gifts to be given to Saudi Arabia, including the Treaty of Jeddah of 1927 expressing friendship between Saudi Arabia and the UK
• The departure of the Ruler of Saudi Arabia King Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud from London
• Rumours of the Saudis' ‘second thoughts’ regarding the Foreign Secretary’s upcoming visit