890F.6363/32: Telegram
The Chargé in Saudi Arabia ( Moose ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 16—7:33 a.m.]
30. My telegram No. 14, June 5, 11 [1] p.m. and Cairo’s No. 1221, July 13, 9 a.m. In response to British inquiry from Cairo, British Minister and I on July 1st conferred on advisability of mentioning possible denial operations to Saudi Government. We agreed that such mention would create needless alarm and harm standing of United Nations with local government. Mr. Bird opined that recent German advances in Egypt made present time particularly inopportune.
[Page 581]In my opinion no favorable time will occur to mention denial alone though it might be linked with defense in a more palatable phrase such as “maintenance of military detachments, establishment of antiaircraft defenses and other military measures designed to prevent the oil installation from falling into enemy hands”.
Cairo has been informed.