1. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Eagleburger) to Secretary of Defense Richardson

Summary: Eagleburger briefed Richardson on current Department of Defense arms and training policies toward the Middle East, in the context of NSC decisions on the subject.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–76–117, Box 19, Persian Gulf, 1973, 000.1. Secret. Drafted by Jason Timberlake (OSD/ISA/NESA). NSSM 66 and NSDMs 92 and 186 are in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970, Documents 73, 91, and 120.

2. National Security Study Memorandum 181

Summary: The President directed a review of policies toward the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, National Security Study Memoranda (NSSMs) 104–206, NSSM 181. Secret. A copy was sent to Admiral Moorer. NSSM 174 is in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969–1974, Document 171.

3. National Security Study Memorandum 182

Summary: The President directed a study of the implications of Soviet strategy toward the Middle East and South Asia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, National Security Council Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–200, NSSM 182. Top Secret. A copy was sent to Admiral Moorer.

4. Summary of Conclusions of a Washington Special Actions Group Meeting

Summary: WSAG considered new arms sales to Saudi Arabia as part of a broader bilateral relationship.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box SCI 21, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, WSAG, April 1972–August 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; [handling restriction not declassified]. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. King Faisal’s meeting with the President of Aramco is reported in telegram 1891 from Jidda, May 8, 1973. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]).

5. National Intelligence Estimate Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Summary: The CIA assessed potential security threats to U.S. interests in the wake of British withdrawal from the region, concentrating on radical threats to new and moderate Gulf regimes.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79R01012A, Box 464, Folder 5, Problems in the Persian Gulf. Secret. The CIA, the intelligence organizations of the Departments of Defense, State, and the Treasury, and the NSA participated in the preparation of this estimate. It was submitted with the concurrence of all USIB members, except for the representative of the FBI, who abstained on the grounds that the subject was outside his jurisdiction.

6. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders and Richard T. Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Summary: Saunders and Kennedy briefed Kissinger on the upcoming SRG meeting to discuss NSSM 182, and provided him with an analytical summary of the response.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, National Security Council Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–068, Meeting Files, 1969–74, Senior Review Group Meeting, Soviet Strategy in Near East/South Asia, NSSM 182, 7/13/73. Top Secret. Sent for information. Brackets are in the original. Quandt drafted the attached analytical summary on July 12. Attached but not published are the undated talking points and the Department’s draft response to NSSM 182, which is published as Document 3.

7. Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group

Summary: The SRG discussed Soviet strategies in the Middle East and South Asia and recommended the drafting of a “comprehensive U.S. approach to the area.”

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box SCI 18, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, February 1971–July 1973. Top Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. The briefing paper, attached but not published and drafted by Walters, formed the basis for a July 19 summary of operations in the area.

8. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Summary: Saunders briefed Kissinger for a July 20 SRG meeting, following the July 13 meeting on NSSMs 181 and 182.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Top Secret. Attached at Tab A is the Department of State paper entitled “A U.S. Strategy for the Region of the Soviet Southern Flank,” with a covering paper from Saunders dated July 19, published as Document 9. Attached at Tab B is the analytical summary of the study for NSSM 181, published as Document 10. The full NSSM 181 study is not published. Attached at Tab C is a paper on contingencies in the event of instability in Saudi Arabia, published as Document 11. Kissinger requested this paper on July 12. [text not declassified]

9. Paper Prepared by Harold H. Saunders of the National Security Council Staff

Summary: Saunders prepared a paper analyzing a Department of State study on U.S. Strategy in the Middle East.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Secret. This paper was attached as Tab A to the July 19 Saunders memorandum to Kissinger published as Document 8. Attached is the signed analytical summary from Saunders critiquing the paper. The points in this summary are reproduced in the July 19 briefing memorandum from Saunders to Kissinger published as Document 8.

10. Paper Prepared by William B. Quandt of the National Security Council Staff

Summary: Quandt provided the analytical summary of the Department’s study responding to NSSM 181.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Secret. This paper was attached as Tab B to the July 19 memorandum from Saunders to Kissinger published as Document 8. NSSM 181 is Document 2.

11. Paper Prepared by William B. Quandt of the National Security Council Staff

Summary: At Kissinger’s July 12 request, Quandt provided an analytical summary of contingency plans in the event of instability in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive. This paper was attached as Tab C to the July 19 memorandum from Saunders to Kissinger, published as Document 8. That memorandum indicates that Kissinger requested the plan on July 12 based on the suggestion from U.S. Ambassador to Iran Richard Helms. Kissinger’s request is in the Washington National Records Center, OASD Files: FRC 330–78–0002, Saudi Arabia 381, 1973 X3101. The plan, drafted by the NSC Contingency Planning Working Group, was forwarded by the group’s acting chair, Joseph W. Neubert, Acting Deputy Director for Planning (S/PC), to Kissinger under a July 20 covering memorandum. The contingency plan is not published. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Box TS 32, Geopolitical File, Middle East Chronological File, October 1973)

12. Memorandum From Acting Director of Central Intelligence Walters to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

[Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. 2 pages not declassified.]

13. Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group

Summary: The SRG met to discuss NSSMs 181 and 182 on regional strategy in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box SCI 18, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, February 1971–July 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Codeword. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. The record of the July 13 SRG meeting is Document 7. For the Department of State papers under discussion, see Documents 8 and 9. On cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, see also Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXVII, Iran; Iraq, 1973–1976, Documents 22 and 65.

14. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Colby to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

[Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Files, Job 80M01009A, Box 31, Folder 465. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. 2 pages not declassified.]

15. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer) to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger

Summary: Moorer advised Schlesinger of U.S. basing and facility requirements in the Middle East after the Arab-Israeli War of October 1973.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD Files: FRC 330–78–0011, Middle East, 1974. Secret. A draft memorandum addressed to Kissinger is attached but not published.

16. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders and William B. Quandt of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger

[Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 647, Country Files, Middle East (General), Volume 9, 1972–74. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. 16 pages not declassified.]

17. Special National Intelligence Estimate Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Summary: The CIA estimated the strategic consequences of the impending re-opening of the Suez Canal.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79R0102A, Box 482, Folder 1, Implications of Reopening the Suez Canal. Secret; Controlled Dissem. The CIA and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of Defense, State, and the Treasury, and the NSA participated in the preparation of this estimate. The intelligence organizations of the Departments of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force also participated. The DCI issued this estimate with the concurrence of all USIB members except for the representatives of the FBI and the Treasury, who abstained because the subject was outside of their jurisdiction.

18. National Security Study Memorandum 198

Summary: The President initiated a study on a broader economic and strategic relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Executive Secretariat Files, NSSM 198. Secret; Sensitive. A copy was sent to Moorer.

19. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Interdepartmental Working Group (Sisco) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Summary: Sisco forwarded to Kissinger the study report for NSSM 198, proposing the establishment of the U.S.-Saudi Joint Commissions.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P820050–0479. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Drafted by Sober on April 10. A typed notation at the top of the memorandum reads: “OBE Per NSC: HSaunders 6/8/74”. The attached report on NSSM 198 is not published, as it was OBE by June. Kissinger instructed Akins to proceed rapidly on the Joint Commissions in March. See Documents 104 and 106. No further action was taken on NSSM 198.

20. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Department officials met with British Embassy officials to discuss strategy and current policy in the Gulf region.

Source: National Archives, RG 84, Doha Embassy Files: Lot 79F187, POL 1–2, Gulf. Secret. Drafted by Dickman, G. Quincy Lumsden, and Stephen Buck (NEA/ARP).

21. Interagency Intelligence Memorandum

Summary: The intelligence community assessed the security situation in the Gulf region after the Arab-Israeli War of October 1973.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79R01099A, Box 12, Folder 9, The Security Situation in the Arabian Peninsula-Persian Gulf. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified].

22. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Kissinger, Schlesinger, and Scowcroft discussed Gulf contingency planning, the possible effects of a second oil embargo, and military supply to Middle East countries.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 4, Nixon Administration. Top Secret. The meeting took place at the Pentagon. Kissinger met with Allon at Camp David July 31–August 1. The records of their conversations are in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXVI, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1974–1976, Documents 93 and 94.

23. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Kissinger met with the Chiefs of Mission of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Embassies to discuss regional issues, with emphasis on Saudi Arabia.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P820123–0946. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Butcher. Copies were sent to the White House. The meeting took place in Riyadh, during Kissinger’s February 10–15 trip to the Middle East.

24. Study Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Summary: The CIA projected the state of the Middle East in the 1980s.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DI/OCI, Job 79T01022A, Box 1, Folder 40. Confidential. OPR prepared the study.

25. National Security Study Memorandum 238

Summary: The President directed a study of U.S. security policy in the Gulf.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Institutional Files, Box 32, U.S. Policy Toward the Persian Gulf and Iran (NSSM 238). Secret. A copy was sent to Brown.

26. Study Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Summary: The CIA assessed Soviet policy and assets in the Middle East.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DI/OCI Files, Job 79T00889A, Box 9, Folder 7. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. Drafted by [name not declassified] (OPR)

27. Memorandum From Robert B. Oakley and Robert Plowden of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)

Summary: The NSC staff summarized for Scowcroft previous action on NSSM 238 and provided briefing materials prior to a January 5 SRG meeting on the study.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Institutional Files, Box 49, Senior Review Group Meeting on the Persian Gulf (NSSM 238). Secret. Sent for action. Brackets are in the original. Tabs A, B, and C are attached but not published. At Tab A is the undated (presumably December 16) revised Executive Summary of the NSSM 238 study. At Tab B is a paper titled “Recommended Procedures for Management of Security Assistance Programs in the Persian Gulf Area.” At Tab C is NSDMs 92 and 186, which are in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970, Documents 91 and 120. Tab D was not found. NSSM 238 is Document 25. The study is not published. (Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 42, NSSM 238–U.S. Policy Towards the Persian Gulf (1 of 3) (4)). According to a December 16, 1976, memorandum from Oakley and Plowden to Scowcroft, the Department of State recommended that in light of the 1976 Presidential election results, all policy recommendations be removed from the Executive Summary, transforming the NSSM into a background paper for the incoming Carter administration. (Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 41, NSSM 238–U.S. Policy Towards the Persian Gulf (1 of 3) (1))

28. Minutes of a Senior Review Group Meeting

Summary: The SRG met to consider NSSM 238.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 307, National Security Council, Senior Review Group, November 1976–January 1977. Secret. NSSM 238 is published as Document 25. NSSM 223, “Review of U.S. Policy on Arms Transfers, May 19, 1975, is published as Document 53 in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXXV, National Security Policy, 1973–1976. NSSM 237, “U.S. International Energy Policy,” is published as Document 93 in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXXVII, Energy Crisis, 1974–1980.

29. Executive Summary of a Study Prepared by the Interdepartmental Political-Military Group

Summary: The NSC forwarded to Scowcroft the Executive Summary of the response to NSSM 238, designed to provide the incoming Carter administration with a policy framework and a set of options.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 42, NSSM 238–U.S. Policy Toward the Persian Gulf (3 of 3) (3). Secret. Brackets, except those indicating text not declassified, are in the original. The Executive Summary was transmitted under a January 17 covering memorandum from Oakley to Scowcroft. (Ibid.) Annex A, not published, is a brief table entitled “Military Sales Cases Ready for Submission to the Congress.” Annex B, not published, is the paper “Recommended Procedures for Management of Security Assistance Programs in the Persian Gulf Area.” Also attached is a brief note from Scowcroft to Zbigniew Brzezinski, dated January 19, which reads “Zbig: Here’s another one.”

30. Paper Prepared in the National Security Council

Summary: The NSC Staff prepared for the Carter administration a set of proposals supporting the idea of a “pause” in arms sales to Middle Eastern countries.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for Middle East and South Asian Affairs, Convenience Files, 1974–77, Subject File, Box 38, Persian Gulf (2). Secret. Brackets are in the original. Attached but not published are two informal notes, dated January 11 and January 19, from “Bob,” (presumably Robert Oakley) to other members of the NSC Staff, presenting this final draft to the Carter transition team.