SOURCES OF SUPPLY

The Saudi Arabian government, will, notwithstanding other matters concerning it at the time, be giving some special attention on 25 January to the general elections being held on that day in West Germany. In particular, Riyadh will have an interest in following the fortunes at the polls of the conservative parties in West Germany and, especially, the Bavarian Christian Social Union party. The Saudi government has a valid reason for concerning itself about the course of the election. A clear victory for the conservative parties could bring the Bavarian Prime Minister, Franz Josef Strauss, into the central government in the key position of foreign or defence minister. And Frans Josef Strauss is the man who thinks Bonn's current arms policy towards Saudi Arabia is all wrong and that West Germany should be free to sell sophisticated weapons to the kingdom.