Office of the Historian

248. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State1

Jidda, October 3, 1956—5 p.m.

171. (1) My telegram 106 from Dhahran,2 reporting audience with King Saud September 11 on Dhahran airfield agreement, highlighted inter alia his keen interest in receiving letters of offer for $35 million arms requested almost year ago. His closing words were: “I am asking nothing for further six months extension (of DAF agreement) but I should meanwhile like to receive your Government’s letter of offer for the arms we ordered so long ago”.

(2) During conversation with Royal Counselor Yasin in Riyadh September 27 he made particular point of asking me ascertain Department’s reaction to this démarche. He said Defense Minister had been pressing Prime Minister for guidance and Prince Faisal “would like to know where we stand”.

(3) Am aware Department’s view expressed prior my September 11 audience was that letters of offer “should be released only upon SAG agreement of five year extension” (Deptel 1773) but venture suggest reconsideration is warranted by new emphasis placed on this [Page 403] particular subject by King and his Ministers. Favorable reply at early date would, I believe, greatly strengthen King’s hand in dealing with what he has so often referred to as “internal and external pressures” and might well encourage him lend more positive support our Suez policies, e.g. by endeavoring persuade Nasser negotiate more realistically.

Wadsworth
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56386A/10–356. Secret; Priority.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. See footnote 3, Document 246.↩