Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Near East: Jordan-Yemen, Volume XIII

224. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, April 23, 1956¹

Washington, April 23, 1956

SUBJECT

• Saudi Arabian Policies Toward Jews

PARTICIPANTS

• Ambassador Al–Khayyal of Saudi Arabia
• Mr. Mahdi, Saudi Arabian Embassy
• Mr. George V. Allen, NEA
• Mr. David D. Newsom, NE

Mr. Allen said there has been one matter of concern to the Department for some time which he wished to discuss with the Ambassador prior to his departure for Africa. He said this was the matter of Saudi Arabian policies toward American citizens of the Jewish faith. He spoke to the Ambassador along the lines of the attached memorandum² and, upon the completion of the discussion, handed the Ambassador a copy.

Ambassador Al–Khayyal replied that, since this was the first time the matter had been raised by the United States Government, he would transmit the memorandum to Saudi Arabia and would undoubtedly have further comments later. Mr. Newsom said he wished to point out that, while this matter had not been raised in recent months, there were at least two or three cases, and perhaps more, in the past years in which the United States Government has indicated its inability to condone Saudi Arabian practices in this matter. The Ambassador asked whether these cases concerned primarily individuals and Mr. Newsom confirmed that this was the case.

The Ambassador stated that the problem in Saudi Arabia could not be compared to that in any other Arab state, since Jews have not resided in that country since the time of the Caliph Omar in the seventh century. He stated that the Jewish community was banned from the holy places of Islam because they had planned to assassinate the Prophet and this policy had prevailed ever since that time.

In response to a question, Mr. Allen said the Department’s approach was not caused by any particular case nor by any particular pressure on the Department. He said it was a principle of the United States that all human beings should be treated as individuals and not as members of a group and that for this reason the United States had been unable to condone some of the practices of Saudi Arabia, although it recognized the right of Saudi Arabia to regulate the entrance of foreigners.

Ambassador Al–Khayyal asked whether the concern of the United States was directed primarily at the transit of Jewish persons at Dhahran. Mr. Allen said that the extension of the Saudi policies to persons in transit seemed particularly extreme. He said the United States cannot concur either in the policy of prohibiting the assignment of American soldiers of the Jewish faith. But, since the United States is a guest in Saudi Arabia, it accepts this, although it does not agree with it.

Prior to his departure, the Ambassador asked about the Buraimi matter. Mr. Allen said the problem had been discussed in Paris by the Secretary with the British. The United States was now primarily interested in determining what the U.K. intended to do as the next step. It understood that instructions were being prepared to the British Ambassador in Jidda regarding the agenda. Mr. Allen stressed that the Secretary had this problem very much in his mind and that the interest of the United States in an appropriate solution would continue.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56386A/4–2356. Confidential. Drafted by Newsom.
2. Not printed. This undated U.S. memorandum raised two aspects of Saudi regulations and practices which “directly affect our citizens and cause particular concern”: “1. The refusal to permit the transit of any U.S. citizen through Saudi Arabia regardless of color, race, or creed”; and “2. The requirement that U.S. firms certify that they are not Jewish owned or directed before being permitted to trade with Saudi Arabia.”