867N.01/2007½
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius) to President Roosevelt 5
In view of the confidential nature of Colonel Hoskins’ recent mission to see the King in Saudi Arabia, he was asked on completion of his mission to return to Washington and to deliver his report to you in person. As a result of following this procedure, his mission was accomplished with a minimum of publicity or leakage, and at the same time a more complete picture of the situation in Saudi Arabia was obtained.
You will recall that on June 29 when the British Foreign Office was informed of the purpose of Colonel Hoskins’ mission to Saudi Arabia they asked specifically that they be “fully informed of the tenor and outcome” of his mission. As yet we have given them no information.
I believe that the most satisfactory procedure for informing the British will be for Colonel Hoskins to proceed to London and to give to Mr. Churchill and to the Foreign Office at first-hand the results of his mission. Also, while he is there, he can see Dr. Weizmann and inform him of King Ibn Saud’s answer.
May I have your approval to this procedure?
- Notation on the original: “ERS OK FDR.”↩