Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The Near East and Africa, Volume IV

800.24/5–2543

The Secretary of State to Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy

Washington, May 25, 1943.

My Dear Admiral Leahy: I refer to your letter of April 29, 1943,¹ explaining why it is not possible to furnish the Department with copies of the volumes containing the minutes and papers of the Joint and Combined Chiefs of Staff in connection with the Casablanca Conferences.² The reasons for the unavailability of these documents are, of course, readily understood. It is my understanding that at the Casablanca Conferences it was agreed that military equipment for Turkey should be furnished through British channels.³ Recently it has come to our attention that certain British authorities have put forward the contention that a similar agreement has been reached in regard to the supply of military equipment to other independent countries in the Near East. The particular cases that have so far come to our attention are set forth below.

1. You will recall that recently the President found the defense of Saudi Arabia vital to the defense of the United States.⁴ The American Minister at Cairo,⁵ who is also accredited to Saudi Arabia, visited King Ibn Saud a few weeks ago to acquaint him with the President’s decision and to discuss lend-lease questions. Subsequently, following the return of the American Minister to Cairo, the British Chargé d’Affaires in Saudi Arabia informed the American Chargé d’Affaires there that the Saudi Arabian Government had inquired of the British authorities whether any objection would be entertained if a request were made to this Government to furnish arms under lend-lease procedure. Declaring that American and British military supplies are pooled, the British Government replied that a request of this kind should be made either through the Saudi Arabian Legation in London or the British Legation at Jidda. In other words, the Saudi Arabian Government, whose primary economic interests are closely related to those of the United States by virtue of a concession granted to an American company to assist in the development of one of the greatest oil reserves in the world, was informed that it could secure American lend-lease military equipment only through the medium of the British authorities.

2. The British Embassy at Cairo has informed the American Legation there of its intention of transmitting a note to the Egyptian Government to the effect that all requests for “warlike and other stores” from abroad, that is, equipment paid for by the Egyptian Ministry of National Defense, should be routed through and procured by the British military authorities, in Egypt. Upon being asked by the British Embassy to transmit a similar note to the Egyptian Government, the American Minister has telegraphed the Department for instructions, pointing out that a great deal of Egyptian military equipment, such as army trucks, is of American origin and emphasizing the desirability of providing Egyptian officials with the opportunity of obtaining American supplies directly from American agencies.⁶

Mr. Kirk has also reported to the Department that Misr Airworks, an Egyptian commercial aviation company engaged primarily in the transportation of military personnel and mail in the Near Eastern area, has expressed its desire to purchase, on a cash basis, two American transport planes in order to maintain its services. In reply to the Department’s inquiry as to the availability of two planes for such purpose, an official of the War Department stated:

“Egypt is the British sphere of influence and so any request for planes from U. S. to Egypt will be turned down by the Munitions Assignment Committee (Air) by the British members. The type of plane has no bearing on the question. In order to get the planes desired the Egyptian Government must ask the British for same.”

3. The King of Greece⁷ has requested the Minister at Cairo to assist him in obtaining an American station wagon for his personal use. In as much as station wagons cannot be secured at present through ordinary channels, inquiry was made of the War Department as to the possibility of furnishing a military vehicle for the use of the King. In reply, officials of the War Department expressed the view that, while a station wagon would be available for this purpose, it should be provided by the British, rather than American, military authorities.

Thus it appears that there is a prevailing impression in some quarters that military and related equipment can be furnished to governments of independent Near Eastern countries only through the medium of the British authorities and that officials of those governments should not approach agencies of this Government directly with respect to such matters.

The Department, however, is not aware that any commitments have been made, apart from special arrangements agreed upon at Casablanca affecting Turkey, recognizing exclusive British responsibility to provide military equipment required by the independent governments of the Near Eastern area. Furthermore, it is considered that it would be highly damaging to American prestige throughout the Arab world and prejudicial to the maintenance of good relations with the countries of that region, and consequently prejudicial to vital American economic interests, to permit this prevailing impression that such commitments have been made to develop into established policy.

The Department proposes, therefore, if you perceive no objections, to take immediate steps to make known to the appropriate agencies of this Government and to the governments of independent Near Eastern countries, except Turkey, that it is the policy of this Government to welcome direct inquiries from officials of those governments regarding the availability of American military supplies to meet their needs and that such supplies will be furnished to them directly if it is feasible to do so. When informing the British Government to this effect, we shall, of course, make it clear that the United States authorities will consult with the British authorities before definite decisions are made with regard to such inquiries.

Sincerely yours,

Cordell Hull

1. Not printed.
2. Conference between President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill, January 14–24, 1943; correspondence relating to this conference is scheduled for publication in a subsequent volume of Foreign Relations.
3. For correspondence relating to the decisions taken at the Casablanca Conference, see pp. 1064 ff.
4. For correspondence relating to the extension of lend-lease assistance to Saudi Arabia, see pp. 854 ff.
5. Alexander C. Kirk.
6. For correspondence regarding the policy of the United States with respect to direct requests from the Egyptian Government for aid, see pp. 66 ff.
7. George II.