711.90f2/6
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes)
Sir: The Department refers to its telegram No. 113 of May 1, 1931, instructing you to inform the Hejazi Minister that the United States extends full recognition to the Government of His Majesty, King Ibn Saud of the Hejaz and Nejd and its Dependencies. At the same time [Page 553] you were instructed to inform the Hejazi Minister that, pending an opportunity for the negotiation of a formal treaty of commerce and navigation, this Government would be glad to enter into an exchange of notes with his Government providing for reciprocal unconditional most-favored-nation treatment in such matters. In his note dated May 4, 1931, enclosed with your despatch No. 1920, of May 8, 1931,15 the Hejazi Minister states that his Government assents to the foregoing proposal.
The Department now desires to proceed to the conclusion of the agreement referred to and encloses a proposed text thereof16 which you should submit to the Hejazi Minister for the consideration of his Government. The provisions of parts 1, 2 and 3 of the enclosed draft are similar to provisions of agreements between the United States and certain other countries, while those in part 4 have been customarily included in treaties entered into by the United States. It is believed that all of these provisions will be found self-explanatory, and that they will prove acceptable to the Hejazi Government.
With reference to part 5 of the draft note you may state that it is not the practice of this Government to submit provisional agreements of this kind to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification, and that it is therefore customary to include in such agreements a provision whereby the stipulations thereof shall lapse if this Government should be prevented by the future action of its legislature from carrying out their terms.
You are authorized to sign and transmit to the Hejazi Minister the enclosed note upon being advised by him of his authorization to reply thereto in identic terms. The exchange of notes thus effected would consummate the agreement between the two Governments.
The Department will be glad to have you give this matter your prompt attention. If any material changes in the enclosed draft are desired by the Hejazi Government, you should report fully to the Department by telegraph and request instructions.
Very truly yours,