UK arms sales

This file concerns the sale of British arms to Saudi Arabia. It contains correspondence on:

• Outline of deliveries due, including Lightning and Jet Provost aircraft and a possible £40-million naval contract, showing that little has been supplied since the June War
• ‘A Review of Military Sales Potential in Saudi Arabia’, by the Defence Attaché Colonel C S Fitzpatrick
• Article in the Daily Telegraph by Richard Beeston concerning the deteriorating relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia
• Meetings in Paris and Geneva, in February 1968, between Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and the Head of Defence Sales R F Brown
• Problems with the ‘Magic Carpet’ contract; the response of Mr Charlton of Airwork Services Limited
• Possible sale to Saudi Arabia of a type-RN41 frigate originally ordered by Ghana
• Purchase of light arms, Bren and Sten guns via Hildeah Limited
• Supply of aircraft practice bombs to Saudi Arabia by the English Electric Aviation Limited
• Saudi interest in self-propelled anti-aircraft guns
• Application from Vickers Limited for the supply of 175 tanks and parts to Saudi Arabia, and associated 105mm ammunition
• Demonstration of Saladin armoured cars to the Saudi Arabian National Guard; a parliamentary question on the vehicle from Eldon Griffiths
• Suggestion of competitive trials between the French Panhard and the British Saladin armoured cars
• Question of why the Saudis are now turning to France for defence supplies; the link to British policy in Yemen; the views of Prince Sultan and of Sir Charles Duke of the Middle East Association, which promotes British trade