Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East and Africa, Volume VIII

811.7490F/3–1445: Telegram

The Minister in Saudi Arabia (Eddy) to the Secretary of State

Jidda, March 14, 1945—3 p.m.
[Received 7:58 p.m.]

106. Re Department’s instruction No. 233, February 12.⁹⁸ Inconclusive delays in securing British concurrence in Saudi Government radio station tend to convince Saudi Government that United States is still unable to assert independent policy in Saudi Arabia, highly confidential Saudi official source states. Radio communications regarded as minimum right between sovereign nations. British concurrence awaited as test of our vigor and prestige vis-à-vis Britain whose concurrence in weightier matters such as military and finance Saudis will not expect us to secure.

I suggest respectfully that Saudi confidence in vigor of United States policy may be important at both [the] coming visit of British Ministers to Riyadh (reLegs 84, March 2, 4 p.m. and 95, March 8, noon⁹⁹).

Eddy

98. Not printed; it transmitted copies of telegrams 794, January 23, 2 p.m., from London, and 789, February 1, midnight, to London, pp. 1011 and 1012, respectively.
99. Neither telegram printed; the former reported that Sir Edward Grigg, British Minister Resident in the Middle East, accompanied by the British Minister in Saudi Arabia, would visit King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud between March 9 and 11 and that the visit had been “suggested in Cairo by Churchill who offered it to King as return of King’s visit to Churchill, to be made on his behalf” by Sir Edward Grigg (033.4190F/3–245); the latter advised of postponement of visit (033.4190F/3–845). In telegram 121, March 23, 1945, 11 a.m., the Minister in Saudi Arabia reported further postponement of the visit “until after Sir Edward Grigg has made a trip to London.” (033.419F/3–2345) For information on the meeting of British Prime Minister Churchill and King Ibn Saud at Fayoum, Egypt, on February 17, 1945, see despatch 74, February 22, p. 689.