890F.0011/97
The Minister Resident in Saudi Arabia (Moose) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 12.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Legation’s telegram no. 95 dated August 18, 1943, 2:00 p.m.,20 to the annexures to despatch no. 50 dated October 25, 1943,21 and to report to the Department certain details in regard to the desire of His Royal Highness Amir Saud to visit the United States.
When the Honorable Alexander Kirk, then Minister to Saudi Arabia, visited King Ibn Saud in Riyadh in May 1942, there were several references to the desire of Amir Saud to visit the United States after the end of the war. This same desire was expressed to Americans in the California Arabian Standard Oil Company at different times.
About a year later, the same desire was expressed to Brigadier-General Patrick Hurley,22 who was then visiting in Riyadh, and as a result of conversations held at that time, Amir Saud informally expressed his readiness to visit the United States whenever invited. This intention was reported in the Legation’s telegram no. 60, June 25, 1943, 2:00 p.m.20
In late July, the Department instructed this Legation to deliver to King Ibn Saud a message from the President inviting the King, or a member of the Saudi Royal Family representing the King, to visit the United States.
Ten days later the King accepted the invitation on behalf of a member of his family, but failed to specify which member.
[Page 842]On August 18, 1943, it was learned that two of the King’s sons, Amirs Faisal and Khalid, would visit the United States, and not Amir Saud, as contemplated. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed the substitution of Amir Faisal for Amir Saud to the press of the Crown Prince’s duties and to the condition of his health.
When I was received in audience by the King on September 29, 1943, he spontaneously explained that Amir Saud had wished to accept the President’s invitation to visit the United States, but that urgent matters required the presence of the Crown Prince in Arabia, and that the condition of the Crown Prince’s eyes did not permit him to make the trip. No indication was given of the nature of the urgent matters.…
The following day, the Crown Prince himself gave assurances of the friendship of Saudi Arabia for the United States, and that this friendship would continue when he became King. He added that one day he would go to the United States and give personal assurance on the point to the President and high officials.
On October 4, 1943, the Crown Prince again referred to his desire to visit the United States, and on October 11, 1943, repeated it a third time.
In conversation with Mr. F. W. Ohliger, General Manager of the California Arabian Standard Oil Company, on or about August 22, 1943, the King gave an indication of the nature of the urgent affairs which prevented Amir Saud from going to the United States. While discussing the ever-present problem of maintaining order in Saudi Arabia, the King remarked that in times like the present, neither the King nor his successor should leave the country. This remark is all the more comprehensible when it is recalled that Amir Saud is accustomed to deal with the tribes on behalf of his Royal father.
There is no reason to doubt the genuineness of the Amir Saud’s friendly feeling toward the United States, or that of the King’s, and it is obvious that Amir Saud does wish to visit the United States when he is able. He may be even more anxious to do so after hearing the tall tales which Amirs Faisal and Khalid will tell when they return to Arabia.
The subject will undoubtedly come up again, and it seems that a considerable benefit might accrue from a successful visit of Amir Saud to the United States when the opportunity offers.
Respectfully yours,