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

243. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, August 6, 1956¹

Washington, August 6, 1956

SUBJECT

• U.S. Representations to Saudi Arabian Government Concerning Discrimination Against Jews

PARTICIPANTS

• Ambassador Al-Khayyal of Saudi Arabia
• Mohamed Mahdi, Saudi Arabian Embassy
• George V. Allen, Assistant Secretary, NEA
• A. David Fritzlan, NE

The Saudi Arabian Ambassador called to deliver his Government’s reply to the memorandum expressing U.S. concern over Saudi discrimination against Jews, which was handed him by Mr. Allen on May 9. In delivering his Government’s reply, Sheikh Khayyal expressed appreciation for the friendly tone of the U.S. memorandum and for the recognition contained in it of the right of Saudi Arabia to adopt regulations concerning these matters which appeared to it to be in its own interests.

Mr. Allen read the Saudi Arabian memorandum, a copy of which is attached,² and inquired whether Saudi Arabian policy in regard to the entry of Jewish persons into the country was of fairly recent date and specifically if it antedated the establishment of Israel. The Ambassador stated that the restrictions had been in effect since the Balfour declaration, which paved the way for the establishment of a Jewish state. Mr. Allen asked what the Saudi attitude towards Jews entering the country was before the Balfour declaration, and the Ambassador replied that, as far as he was aware, the question had not arisen.

Mr. Allen took exception to the penultimate paragraph of the Saudi memorandum³ implying that U.S. policy is responsive to Zionist pressures and stated that such was not the case; on the contrary, U.S. policies were determined in the light of the interest of this country as a whole.

Mr. Allen asked the Ambassador if Saudi regulations would prohibit the entry into the country of non-Zionist Jews. He explained that there was a considerable number of Jews in the country who looked upon Zionism with disfavor, and who strongly opposed Ben Gurion’s contention that all Jews throughout the world must eventually look upon Israel as their home and as the country of their allegiance. The Ambassador said he was aware that certain Jews held non-Zionist attitudes, and he mentioned specifically Alfred Lilienthal as an example. He went on to say that Mr. Lilienthal had recently had no trouble visiting the Arab countries and had in fact been admitted to Saudi Arabia. This demonstrated that Saudi Arabia was concerned, not with matters of race and religion, but with the matter of support given the Zionist cause.

Mr. Allen enlarged upon the U.S. attitude in this matter, stating that we look upon Jews in this country as loyal American citizens and we could not condone the Saudi Arabian attitude of discrimination against them. He felt that cases of Jews wishing to visit Saudi Arabia should be considered individually rather than in general terms. He referred to Ben Gurion’s attitude towards Jews and said he believed the Saudi Arabian Government was in effect playing the same game. By lumping all Jews together as Zionists and, for practical purposes, prohibiting their entry into and transit through Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabians were reinforcing the attitude of Ben Gurion and making it difficult for non-Zionist Jews to proclaim, and act in accordance with, their beliefs. Mr. Allen said U.S. policy was as opposed to an Israeli policy which claimed the allegiance of all Jews as it was to the Saudi policy of discriminating against all Jews. He pointed out that the great majority of American Jews, including those who were active Zionists, were also opposed to the concept of dual allegiance. His chief objection to Saudi policy was that the Saudis were lined up squarely behind the dual allegiance concept. The Ambassador said his government had to accept this concept as a fact until the contrary was more clearly demonstrated.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 886A.181/8–656. Confidential. Draft ed by Fritzlan.
2. Not printed.
3. The penultimate paragraph of the Saudi memorandum indicated that the U.S. contention that some Jews were active in their resistance to Zionism was not demonstrated in any clear manner. When the number of Jews opposed to Zionism increased to such an extent as to show an effect on U.S. policies, the memorandum continued, then the Saudis would reconsider the subject.