CONFIDENTIAL (iv) Lebanese/Lebanese problems President Gemayel said that intra-Lebanese problems would become much more easily soluble once the intra Arab problems and the problem of the Palestinians had been solved (the Ambassador added, as a strictly personal opinion, that Syria was really at the root of most of Lebanon's problems through its arming of factions within Lebanon and its policies towards the Palestinians). The Lebanese Ambassador said that President Gemayel had been very satisfied with his talks and the reception he had been given in Kuwait, and had found the Kuwaitis very sympathetic to his views. This was to be expected given the Kuwait Government's own strong interest in the resolution of Arab differences. 3. Putting this in perspective, HMA has been told by the US Ambassador that the Kuwaitis had found this visit a little awkward because President Gemayel had come without any accompanying ministers since Prime Minister Karami had refused to allow any to travel. While the Kuwaitis had accorded President Gemayel every courtesy, Shaheen (Under-Secretary, MFA) had indicated in strict confidence to Quainton that they would have given similar treatment to other senior Lebanese faction leaders. According to Shaheen, President Gemayel had not visited Saudi Arabia because the Saudis had declined to receive him because they were nervous of Syrian reactions. Yours ever i Floric MG Higson CC: NENAD Chanceries: Muscat Riyadh Doha Bahrain Dubai Abu Dhabi Beirut Damascus Washington (without enclosure) CONFIDENTIAL 2
