CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Mayall
J
The Saudi Arabian Ambassador called this afternoon at
my invitation and I confirmed to him formally that,
following upon King Feisal's informal acceptance of Her
Majes ty's invitation to visit this country next May, The
Queen had now sent a formal invitation.
2.
The Ambassador said that he had had some indication
of this visit from Jedda.
He said he was absolutely
delighted, and added that, if everything went well, this
would be a wonderful climax for his mission to this country.
3.
In the course of some discussion about the Visit, I
asked whether it was likely that Queen Iffat would also
come.
The Ambassador regarded the idea with a certain
degree of horror and said that the Saudis "did not think in
this way".
I explained that we had felt it courteous to
include Her Majesty, but of course we would understand if
this was not according to Saudi custom.
4.
We then discussed the organisation of the Visit, and
the Ambassador emphasised very strongly that, as King Feisal is an active, political Head of State, he would attach great
importance to serious political conversations with the
Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of
State for Defence.
I said I was quite sure that this
would also be our idea and that arrangements for these
talks should be part of the programme.
75.
CONFIDENTIAL
