Cable No. 450 from Counselor Wanibuchi Kazuo (Saudi Arabia) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'The Prime Minister’s Visit to the Middle East (Meeting With King Fahd)'

Secret

Telegraphic Copy                                                        [blacked out]

The Prime Minister’s Visit to the Middle East (Meeting With King Fahd)

No. 450                       Secret  Top Urgent      [blacked out]

On October 6, Prime Minister Kaifu had a meeting with King Fahd at the Alsalam Palace from 9 o’clock in the evening for about an hour. Following is a summary of the meeting’s main points. (Attending the meeting from the other side were Ibrahim Al-Anqari, special advisor to the King; Mohammed Abalkhail, Minister of Finance and National Economy; Hisham Nazer, Minister of Oil and Acting Minister of Planning; Abdulaziz Al Zamil, Minister of Electricity and Industry; Fawzi Shobokshi, Ambassador to Japan. Attending Attending the meeting from our side were Owada Hisashi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Onda Takashi; Watanabe Makoto, Director, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau; Orita Masaki, Secretary to Prime Minister Kaifu; Takenaka Shigeo, Director-General for Press and Public Diplomacy; and Ebihara Shin, Director, First Middle East Division. Interpreter: Miyamaoto Masayuki).

1. At the outset, King Fahd spoke as follows:

I sincerely welcome you, Prime Minister, on your visit to this country. Our two countries have a special relationship of friendship, and I was looking forward to your arrival, Prime Minister, from the friendly nation of Japan. I would like to use this visit as an opportunity to further advance our relations of friendship. As for the present situation in the Gulf, we must work towards a peaceful settlement.

2. In reply, the Prime Minister spoke as follows:

(1) We must seek a peaceful and just settlement of this situation and realize the withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait, the restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government, and the release of all foreigners from Kuwait. I highly appreciate your country’s rejection of compromise and firm stand. My visit to your country was delayed by two months, but I have come now to convey directly to you, King Fahd, that Japan takes the same political stand as your country. This visit is my second here as the Prime Minister of Japan, but relations between our two countries have long been friendly.

(2) I appreciate that Saudi Arabia to date has adopted the constructive position of not bringing disorder to the international oil market and of carrying out a stable supply of oil. Japan has long been receiving a stable supply of oil from your country. I would like from this point forward to further strengthen relations of mutual dependence between our two countries.

3. King Fahd spoke as follows:

(1) It is as you say, Prime Minister. I am well aware of your country’s position. Both Japan and Saudi Arabia are countries that constantly call out to the international community for peace and stability.

(2) The present matter is incomprehensible. I completely did not expect that Saddam Hussein would invade Kuwait. Four days before the incident, Saddam expressly promised to President Mubarak and me that Iraq would not invade Kuwait. I have known Saddam well for the past 17 years and have had close talks with him on the issue of Kuwait. Three months before this incident, the talks between Iraq and Kuwait grew strained. I mediated between the two countries and did my utmost so that the problem did not grow larger. Saddam, too, said that he wished by all means that I mediate. Conflict can occur between large countries, such as Iran and Iraq, but Kuwait is a small country. Invading such a small country is unacceptable.

(3) On the day before Iraq invaded Kuwait, delegations from the two countries held talks here for a settlement.　The chief of Iraq’s delegation told me that a settlement of the Kuwait issue was possible and that relations between the two countries could be repaired. I, too, believed it. That day was Wednesday. At that night’s dinner banquet, the delegations of the two countries engaged in friendly conversation. They said that they would continue the talks on Thursday in Baghdad and on Monday in Kuwait, so I was relieved. After the dinner banquet had ended, the delegations of the two countries left this country at 11 o’clock. The next morning, at one o’clock, Iraq invaded Kuwait. When I heard information from the military in the east, I was unable to believe it right away. Hearing that Kuwait had come under attack, I repeatedly asked them: From where had they come under attack? Was it not Iran? Was it really Iraq? I immediately tried to contact Saddam by telephone but was unable to reach him when, by four o’clock, Iraq had occupied all of Kuwait. I was able to contact Saddam after that. Saddam said to me that he would send [Vice] President Ibrahim al-Douri of Iraq’s Revolutionary Council here to give an explanation.

(4) Ibrahim came here the next day and said that Kuwait was a part of Iraq, that part of Iraq’s territory had simply returned to the motherland, and that no problem existed. In reply, I told him: “Kuwait has existed for the past 200 years. This is history. At that time, there was no country called Iraq. There were only the cities of Baghdad and Basra. Kuwait’s independence was recognized by Iraq in 1963, and it became an official member of the international community as a member of the United Nations and the Arab League.” Ibrahim countered in saying that, “I do not accept such things,” so I (King Fahd) said, “If you do not know, then go back to Baghdad and study the documents.”

(5) The 1963 accord between the two countries was an agreement between Iraq’s President Bakr and Sheikh Sabah, the father of Kuwait’s present sheikh. At that time, Saddam was President Bakr’s right-hand man. He should be well aware of the contents of the agreement. By the way, Bakr and Saddam were related by marriage. That is to say, Bakr’s older sister (younger sister) was related to Saddam’s mother. Consequently, Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait is wrong. It is nothing other than the law of the jungle, where the weak are the victims of the strong. This is a dangerous principle. If Iraq does not withdraw from Kuwait and Kuwait’s legitimate government is not restored,  this dangerous principle will become accepted.

(6) Various international efforts demanding Saddam’s withdrawal are taking place. In the latest one, a Soviet delegation entered Iraq two days ago and should now be engaged in talks. The most important thing is whether Saddam thinks or not that withdrawal is essential I would like Saddam to undertake in regard to the Kuwait issue the same substantive steps that he did regarding relations with Iran. I do not think that the United Nations resolutions to date have been sufficient to make Saddam understand the seriousness of the situation. Saddam is still not seriously thinking about withdrawing from Kuwait.

Saddam seems to think that, despite the international movements and the military tensions, military force will not be used against him.

(7) Despite the existence of a consensus of the entire international community that Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait is essential, Saddam does not comprehend that reality. King Hussein, President Saleh, and Chairman Arafat are not telling Saddam the  truth. No matter what, they must tell Saddam the truth. They are saying that they told this country (Saudi Arabia) that withdrawal from Kuwait is essential, but I think the reality is something different. Saddam is probably telling them that they are not even parties to the issue and, rather, that they stand to gain millions of dollars from Iraq’s annexation of Kuwait. I am not opposed to King Hussein, and I hope for the security of Jordan. Without asking for anything in return, I have provided considerable aid. If the present situation should continue, then sooner or later King Hussein will likely seriously call on Saddam to withdraw and tell him that he will be in serious trouble if he does not do so. Unfortunately, however, King Hussein to date has not told Iraq to withdraw. In the end,  King Hussein, President Saleh, and Chairman Arafat will realize that they made a mistake.

(8) I am hoping for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait and for the problems between Iraq and Kuwait to be settled by talks and am now watching to see how the situation develops. I believe that all Japan’s people are hoping for a peaceful settlement of the issue. Once war starts, one cannot know when it will end. Nobody wants war. Saddam has made an enemy of the entire world. Does he intend to fight? For the first time in history, complete sanctions have been carried out on land, at sea, and in the air against a single country. These sanctions are for making Saddam understand that it will be terrible for him should war break out. I believe that military force will not be used against Iraq itself, but it may be used to force Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait. Iraq has invaded and occupied an independent and sovereign state, a member of the United Nations. This cannot continue.

(9) I am very grateful, Prime Minister, for being able to explain to you Saudi Arabia’s position and gain your understanding. Relations between our two countries are very friendly, and I would like from this point forward to strengthen them in every field. Also, Prime Minister, I would like to express my thanks to the Japanese people for their aid to the multinational force and to countries in the area. The actions of your country rest on a humanitarian basis and, at the same time, will lead to the strengthening of the international contribution that your country desires. At present, Egypt,  Syria, and Morocco, as well as  Pakistan and Bangladesh, are all sending troops to Saudi Arabia. I would like you to consider aid for these countries.

4. In reply to the above remarks, Prime Minister Kaifu spoke as follows:

I once again express my respect, King Fahd, to you for troubling yourself in the present situation in calling for a peaceful settlement of this problem. Japan’s position is clear and is based on on the principle, gained from experience in the Second World War, that invasion by military force is unacceptable. Our position is to call for the peaceful settlement of problems, and we will continue to hold to this policy. If we were to recognize this invasion by armed force, it would mean the return of a world where the weak are the victims of the strong. We completely support your efforts, King Fahd, and those of the people of Saudi Arabia for the peaceful settlement of problems.

5. King Fahd spoke as follows:

What Saddam must understand first of all is that he has made an enemy of the entire international community, including the United Nations and the Soviet Union, and that he is under military pressure. This is wonderful international cooperation for the first time in history. It is hard to believe that the United States and the Soviet Union have agreed on something so important. Iraq must understand this. The entire international community, including the United States and the Soviet Union, is now working for a peaceful settlement of this issue. If this does not go well, then we may have to adopt military means. In that event, Iraq would suffer terrible losses. I would like Saddam to understand this. A Soviet delegation is visiting Iraq. I wish that Saddam would withdraw, now or the next day, but the prospects for that are dim. One must not be pessimistic. I would like to wait a little longer. I would like to report to you, Prime Minister, even in the next two or three days that Iraq has withdrawn and that the restoration of Kuwait's legitimate government has been realized. On that occasion, I would like to have celebrations in both countries.

6. In reply, the Prime Minister said the following:

I hope that prospect is realized. I met First Deputy Prime Minister Ramadan in Amman, but Ramadan said that Kuwait was a part of his own country and that it was a domestic issue. Therefore, I said that Kuwait was an independent country, a member of the United Nations and the Arab League, and that Iraq must withdraw from Iraq, restore Kuwait's legitimate government, and allow all foreigners to leave the country. I also pointed out that Iraq was internationally isolated. From Japan’s own position, we will continue to work for the peaceful settlement of the issue and would like, King Fahd, with your depth of experience, to make efforts with strong leadership.

7. In reply, King Fahd said the following:

I will try as much as I can, but if the other person does not listen, then there is nothing that can be done. The delegations that Saddam is sending abroad are like tape recorders, only saying what Saddam has told them to say. It is a mystery to me why they have become this way, but I hope that the day comes when Iraq’s attitude has changed and the delegations speak in their own words. I would like to tell you, once again, that although your visit this time to this country, Prime Minister, has been a short one, it has been very meaningful. Once today’s crisis has been settled and peace has returned, I would by all means like to visit Japan.

8. The Prime Minister said the following:

We would really like to have you visit Japan. Japan’s Imperial Family and the Japanese people are all waiting. I offer my thanks for your sending Foreign Minister Saud to Japan to attend the ceremony for the Emperor’s accession to the throne. I would like to continue working for the development of relations between our two countries.

9. In reply, King Fahd said the following:

Every effort will lead to good results and will come to benefit both our countries.

The last thing that I would like say is that Ambassador Onda, posted to this country, has made great efforts for the development of relations between our two countries. This is not flattery. Normally, this would not be something I should say in the present of the man in question, but it is the truth.

10. Finally, King Fahd, rising to his feet, sought confirmation on which member of Japan’s Imperial Family had attended the coronation of Britain’s queen. The Prime Minister answered that the present Emperor had attended the ceremony when he had been the crown prince. King Fahd requested that the Prime Minister convey his regards to the Emperor and other members of the Imperial Family. With that, he ended the meeting.

Passed to diplomatic missions in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Yemen, Tunisia, the United States, Britain, France, the Soviet Union, China, the United Nations, and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. I request that you pass this telegram to other diplomatic missions that you consider relevant. 

(End)