Oil affairs in Saudi Arabia

This file relates to oil affairs in Saudi Arabia in the context of the Arab oil embargo following the 1973 Six-Day War, and its relations with the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO). It contains correspondence concerning:

• Meetings and discussions between HMG officials and US officials over Saudi oil policy, and in particular the meetings with the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia J E Akins
• Other countries' dealings with Saudi Arabia over oil including: Denmark, France, South Korea and the Netherlands
• Commentary in the British press on the oil crisis, Saudi Arabia’s negotiations with ARAMCO, and the context of the policies of other oil producing countries such as Kuwait
• Comments in various oil industry publications, the Middle East Economic Survey, and the Middle East Economic Digest, on the oil negotiations
• The discussions between HMG and US officials with the Saudi Minister for Oil Sheikh Ahmad Zaki Yamani
• The question of whether Saudi Arabia will follow a policy of renegotiating participation agreements, nationalisation of the oil industry, or reducing oil prices
• The question of whether the Saudi negotiations with ARAMCO constitute a breach of the embargo; and the denials of a breach from both sides
• The conclusion of an agreement between the Government of Saudi Arabia and ARAMCO giving Saudi Arabia 60% of the latter’s concession rights, and voting rights in the consortium of oil companies partnering with ARAMCO