890F.0011/100
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. W. Leonard Parker of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
| Participants: | Shaikh Hafiz Wahba, Saudi Arabian Minister to London |
| Mr. Austin, FEA24 | |
| Mr. Ward, FEA | |
| Mr. Fred Winant25 | |
| Mr. Parker |
Shaikh Hafiz Wahba called to continue discussions regarding Lend-Lease procedure for Saudi Arabia.26 In the course of previous conversations regarding this matter he indicated that the Saudi Arabian Government would prefer to deal directly with Washington rather than through intermediaries. In the course of conversations today the functions and organization of the Middle East Supply Center were explained to him in detail. It was pointed out to him that the MESC is responsible for the equitable distribution of civilian supplies throughout the Near East and that in many cases considerable time can be saved by dealing through the MESC. It was pointed out to him further that the MESC is in fact a joint Anglo-American organization and that American participation therein is at least equal to that of the British. After this explanation Shaikh Hafiz Wahba expressed the opinion that his Government would have no objection to working through the MESC provided that the Saudi Arabian Government could present its requirements directly to the American Minister Resident in Jidda who would transmit these requirements directly to Mr. Landis27 in Cairo. It was inferred from Shaikh Hafiz Wahba’s remarks that the Saudi Arabian Government is particularly anxious not to deal through their representatives in Cairo. For this reason it was suggested that the Saudi Arabian Government make its needs known directly to Mr. Moose who would pass them on directly to Mr. Landis thereby obviating the necessity for routing them through a Saudi Arabian representative in Cairo. Shaikh Hafiz Wahba expressed complete satisfaction with this procedure as outlined.
[Page 844]Shaikh Hafiz Wahba stated that Amir Faisal had received a telegram a few days ago from King Ibn Saud to the effect that trucks to be furnished under Lend-Lease procedure for the pilgrimage had not arrived. Mr. Winant replied that he would send a telegram of inquiry to Cairo immediately regarding this matter.
Shaikh Hafiz Wahba again stated that Amir Faisal and other members of his party now in the United States desire to purchase about 14 passenger automobiles in this country to be shipped to Saudi Arabia. Mr. Winant again explained to him sympathetically and in detail the very difficult shipping problem presented by the transportation of passenger cars and pointed out that less than a dozen such vehicles had been shipped to the Near East for private use in the past year. He suggested however that he would endeavor to obtain shipping space for the transportation of two cars, one for Amir Faisal and another for Amir Khalid.
Shaikh Hafiz Wahba then presented a rather lengthy list of medical and pharmaceutical requirements for Saudi Arabia. It was suggested to him that probably it would expedite matters if he would have a telegram sent to his Government suggesting that Saudi Arabian health officials present this list to Mr. Moose for transmission to Mr. Landis. It was pointed out that the MESC has a stock pile of medicines and that it might be possible to have some of them shipped directly from Cairo to Saudi Arabia. Shaikh Hafiz Wahba agreed to handling the matter in this way.
Shaikh Hafiz Wahba referred again to the need of the Saudi Arabian Government for radio equipment to maintain existing radio facilities needed for rapid communication in the interest of the maintenance of law and order in Saudi Arabia. It was explained to him that complete radio units are among the most difficult items of equipment to obtain in wartime. He was informed however that it might be possible to supply radio parts needed to place existing equipment in working order. He was informed also that the War Department had authorized General Royce28 to include a radio technician among the personnel of his proposed military mission to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of making an inventory of needed radio equipment.29
Upon taking his departure Shaikh Hafiz Wahba expressed complete satisfaction regarding the procedures which had been outlined to him except for an expression of disappointment that more passenger cars might not be obtained for members of the party.
- Foreign Economic Administration.↩
- Formerly chief American lend lease officer in the area served by the Middle East Supply Center (MESC).↩
- For correspondence relating to this subject, see pp. 854 ff.↩
- James M. Landis, American Director of Economic Operations in the Middle East.↩
- Maj. Gen. Ralph Royce, Commanding General, U.S. Forces, Middle East.↩
- For correspondence relating to the Royce Military Mission to Saudi Arabia, see pp. 904 ff., passim.↩