283. Memorandum of a Conversation, White House, Washington, September 23, 1957, 11:30 a.m.1
SUBJECT
- Meeting with Crown Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia
PARTICIPANTS
- The President The Secretary
- NEA–William M. Rountree
- Mr. Camille Nowfel (Interpreter)
- Crown Prince Faisal Ambassador Al-Khayyal
- Ahmad Abdul Jabbar, Chief of Crown Prince’s Office
The President recalled with pleasure Prince Faisal’s previous visit in 1953.2 He expressed his gratification that the Prince had recovered from his operation, and inquired as to his plans. The Prince, after responding to the President’s welcome, said that he was awaiting further medical reports before deciding when he would return to Saudi Arabia.
The President said that we were deeply concerned over developments in the Middle East, particularly in Syria. The United States was anxious for the countries in the area to develop in accord with their desires. We did not want the Soviets, with their history of ruthless domination of others, to get control of any of the Middle East states.
Prince Faisal said that he was hopeful that everything in the end would be worked out “in a good manner”. He shared the President’s [Page 506] view regarding the seriousness of the situation. The Saudi Arabian Government strongly opposed the Soviet Union having a base in the area. Unfortunately, recent developments had taken place which made the area appear to be in a state of confusion and unrest. As the President knew, the Arabs were extremely anxious to maintain their newly won freedom and independence. He had been away from Saudi Arabia for several months, and was not fully conversant with day to day developments. However, it was clear that the situation should be dealt with a great deal of patience and wisdom. Such an approach would help prevent more serious developments in the future.
The President said that he highly valued what he believed to be the growing closeness of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia over the past two or three years. We were very pleased that King Saud had visited us and believed the visit had resulted in a better understanding of our respective positions and aspirations. The President realized that there were certain questions upon which we were not able to agree completely with Saudi Arabia as to the proper course of action. However, he could assure Prince Faisal that we would allow no aggression on the part of Israel against the Arab Nations. That commitment was made in 1950 and was reiterated after the President assumed office. While, as we saw it, Israel was an historical fact and we must recognize its existence, we would oppose any expansion by Israel at the expense of its neighbors. The United States was the sole country which had made Israeli forces withdraw from the territory occupied last Fall. Our friendship with Arab countries and with His Majesty was based on good will, involved no desire on our part improperly to interfere, and was designed to be mutually helpful. We were hopeful, as we watch the situation in Syria with patience and understanding, that we can remain close to the Saudi Arabian Government and share an understanding of developments which affect the Middle East area so much, as well as ourselves.
The President remarked that he had been talking earlier in the day with the Head of the International Bank and with the Secretary of the Treasury. Knowing that the President would be meeting with Prince Faisal, they had asked him to mention that it was the custom, when a country joined the International Bank, to send a Bank Mission on a visit to study and evaluate such matters as the new member’s eligibility for loans. The President hoped that Prince Faisal would have an opportunity to talk with Mr. Black of the IBRD or with the Secretary of the Treasury about this matter. He mentioned also that the Secretary planned to talk with Prince Faisal the following day and this as well as other matters might be discussed at that time.
[Page 507]Prince Faisal wished to assure the President that King Saud still cherished the memories of his visit to Washington and his talks with the President and other Government officials. He hoped that the results of His Majesty’s visit would continue to enhance the friendly relations between the two governments. The Prince would like to add a few comments to what he had said before.
As far as the Arabs were concerned, Prince Faisal said, Israel was a constant threat. This did not mean that the Arabs did not appreciate the United States position regarding the Soviet Union, or fail to realize the danger of communism. However, one constantly faced by a particular threat was in a different position than anyone else. Stating that he hated to refer to the past, he said that he must point out that all of the troubles in the past had been created by Israel. He hoped to discuss this at greater length with the Secretary.
The President said he understood how Saudi Arabia felt about Israel. It should be remembered, however, that the Soviet Union posed the greatest threat in the world today. The United States could pledge and had pledged that it would act to restrain Israel. No power, however, could likewise act in restraining the Soviet Union if it should move into the Middle East and get under its control the countries of that area. There was a big difference between Israel and international communism.
Prince Faisal responded that he did not minimize the Soviet threat. He was against aggression no matter from what source. He was aware that the United States was concerned with the prevention of any aggression against an Arab State. However, that did not preclude the necessity for the Arab States being prepared to defend themselves against aggression. He gave as an example of the nature of his concern the fact that if in the United States he were to live in a house next door to Sheikh Abdullah, and if Sheikh Abdullah should constantly threaten him, that would constitute an immediate danger to the Prince. But, however immediate and grave this danger might be from his personal viewpoint, it would be unrelated to the danger which threatened the United States and the world as a whole. The United States considered the foremost danger threatening this country as a whole to be the Soviet Union, but to the Arabs their next door neighbor, i.e., Israel, was the more immediate threat. They admitted that communism was an international threat, but the closest danger inevitably was first in the Arab mind.
The President commented that, as the Crown Prince no doubt knew, we were going ahead with delivery of military supplies to Arab States on a high priority basis. The Prince, smiling, said that we should do even better.
- Source: Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Secret. Drafted by Rountree on September 24. Crown Prince Faisal, brother of King Saud and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, arrived in the United States on July 1 for medical treatment.↩
- For documentation on Faisal’s March 1953 visit to Washington, see Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. IX, Part 2, pp. 2512 ff.↩