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

262. Memorandum of a Conversation, White House, Washington, February 1, 1957¹

Washington, February 1, 1957

Appointment with Sir Duncan Sandys, British Minister of Defense, Friday, February 1, 1957.

[Here follow eight paragraphs not directly related to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.]

Sandys asked the President how he was getting on with the King of Saudi Arabia. The President said he was very pleasant personally. He told the President his bill of particulars about the British—and the “aggression” against his territory. President is convinced the King is genuinely against the Soviets and he keeps insisting he wants to be friends with the West. He says that Nasser has “captured Arab public opinion.” The King is unhappy with Nasser.

As for the Israeli problem, the King has no solution—“just continue to be enemies.” The King is anxious to get commerce restored and income coming in again.

King is exercised about the two islands “Farisi” and Arabi (approximate spellings) taken by Iran.

The President said the King was … groping his way, seeking some method of getting help without having to fall into the hands of the Soviets. The President explained that we were friends of the British and would always be friends of the British, and that we wanted to be friends of the Arabs. The King has not mentioned the Baghdad Pact at all.

The President said he thought Arabia offered the best chance to break into the Southern Arab area and gain some understanding. The King seems to be anxious to find out what it is we are trying to do—he is mediaval in his approach but not unintelligent. What the President is trying to do is to convince the King that the West wants to make that country free politically and strong enough to exercise its freedom.

The President reviewed also his discussions with the King about the Canal, about the Fedayeen, about oil, etc.

The President believes that if the King, or someone else, can really come along with the West, we will be able to counter Nasser to a great degree and bring Syria back into friendship with the West. The King is the only one the President sees now as a possible “stone” on which to build.

There was discussion about the visit of Mollet (Sandys said “Mollet is a good fellow, very tough”) and the forthcoming meeting between Macmillan and the President at Bermuda.²

At the close of the conference, the President said he would remember to speak to Dulles about some item—which I could not understand—presumably it was either the Canal or the Baghdad Pact.

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. No drafting information is given on the source text. It was presumably prepared in the Office of the President. The President’s appointment calendar for February 1 indicates no record of a meeting with Sandys. (Ibid., Record of “President’s Daily Appointments”)
2. President Eisenhower was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Macmillan in Bermuda, March 21–24, for discussions on matters of mutual concern to both countries.