890F.0011/99
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the
Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Alling)
[Washington,] November 1, 1943.
Subject: Possible Government Participation in Casoc39
| Participants: |
Amir Faisal, Saudi Arabian Minister of Foreign Affairs |
|
Amir Khalid |
|
Shaikh Hafiz Wahba, Saudi Arabian Minister to London |
|
Mr. Berle |
|
Mr. Murray |
|
Mr. Alling |
Mr. Berle furnished to Amir Faisal the information contained in the
attached statement regarding petroleum development in Saudi Arabia.40 He explained to
the Amir that King Ibn Saud had said that whatever was agreeable to
President Roosevelt was agreeable to him. The Amir smiled and said he
was sure that that would be his father’s answer.
[Annex]
Possible Increased Production of Saudi Arabian
Oil
In the interest of the prosecution of the war the Government of the
United States is giving consideration to ways and means of assisting
the California Arabian Standard Oil Company to construct a refinery
in the vicinity of Dhahran. If this refinery is constructed it will
be necessary for the United States Government to enter into a
financial arrangement with the California Arabian Standard Oil
Company therefor. In order to safeguard a substantial financial
investment on the part of the Government, the United States
Government is discussing with the California Arabian Standard Oil
Company the possibility of acquiring a governmental interest in the
company. These plans at present are under consideration and
discussion, and no definite conclusions in regard thereto have been
reached. The
[Page 851]
American
Minister Resident at Jidda has been instructed to acquaint His
Majesty King Ibn Saud with these developments.
