890F.6363/28: Telegram
The Chargé in Saudi Arabia (Moose) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 5—10:42 a.m.]
27. My 14, June 5, 1 p.m. Casoc’s cable 375 to San Francisco office raises question of possible evacuation Dhahran. To protect insofar [Page 578] as possible valuable concession rights the Government should assume responsibility for evacuation by requesting company to protect lives of Americans by temporary withdrawal from Saudi Arabia. The Legation might transmit request to company representative here and should supply copy to local government before evacuation begins.
If desirable a skeleton crew inducted into military service could remain for possible denial operations though evacuation would greatly increase threat of interference from local officials.
Circumstances necessitating evacuation might make impossible rapid communication with Department or Minister Kirk and it is therefore respectfully suggested that Department, company, and military officials formulate request together with pertinent instructions leaving to discretion of Legation actual time of delivery to company and local government. Legation is in constant touch with local company representative.
The foregoing is based on assumption that Army has no plan for taking over defense and perhaps operation of Dhahran.
Repeated to Cairo.