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

124.90F/31a

The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt

Washington, March 30, 1943.

My Dear Mr. President: I consider that existing circumstances render it highly desirable to elevate the status of our Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at Jidda, Saudi Arabia to that of Minister Resident.¹

It may be recalled that one of the largest oil reserves in the world is located in Saudi Arabia where an American company² has a concession giving it access to these reserves. In view of the rapid decline of the oil resources of the United States, the War and Navy Departments are interested in obtaining military and naval reserves in the ground in Saudi Arabia.^2a Close attention is being given to means whereby an arrangement can be made to secure such reserves and it is expected that negotiations to this end will be conducted with King Ibn Saud³ in the comparatively near future.

The War Department, which has secured certain fly-over privileges in Saudi Arabia, has evinced an interest in obtaining aircraft landing rights in that country. The Legation at Jidda, therefore, may be requested to conduct negotiations with the Saudi Arabian authorities in the near future with respect to such landing rights.

King Ibn Saud, of course, is one of the leading personalities of the Arab world and he exerts a great deal of influence upon the Arab countries of the Near East, where American troops are stationed. In order to secure the support of these Near Eastern peoples in the prosecution of the war, it is considered advisable to enhance the prestige of the American diplomatic representative at Jidda.

I recommend for your consideration, for appointment as Minister Resident to Saudi Arabia, Mr. James S. Moose, Jr., a Foreign Service officer of Class V, now serving as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at Jidda. Mr. Moose is a Near Eastern language officer with a speaking and reading knowledge of Arabic and a thorough understanding of Near Eastern customs and problems. His biographical sketch is enclosed.⁴

Faithfully yours,

Cordell Hull

1. For correspondence relating to the establishment of the Legation at Jidda in 1942, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. iv, pp. 559 ff. Under arrangements made at that time the Mission was organized with the Minister in Egypt (Kirk) accredited also to Saudi Arabia, resident in Cairo, with a permanent Legation staff at Jidda in charge of James S. Moose, Jr., Second Secretary of Legation.
2. The California Arabian Standard Oil Company.
3. For correspondence regarding this subject, see pp. 921 ff.
3. Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, King of Saudi Arabia.
4. Not printed.