890F.24/41: Telegram
The Appointed Minister Resident in Saudi Arabia (Moose) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:27 p.m.]
65. Department’s 22, June 7, 5 p.m. Shaikh Yusuf Yassin72 has delivered to Legation a list of military aid and equipment desired under Lend-Lease and gave copy to local British Legation.
List consists solely of eight general categories as follows:
- (1)
- Equipment for manufacture of cartridges and arms.
- (2)
- Equipment for repair of arms.
- (3)
- Rifles and cartridges.
- (4)
- Tanks, armed and armored cars for use on plains on rough terrain and in sand.
- (5)
- Light guns for emergency use.
- (6)
- Antiaircraft guns.
- (7)
- Airplanes to carry mail inside the country and for other uses.
- (8)
- Technicians to give instruction in use of all equipment.
Category 5 is believed to refer to light field guns transported by camel or truck. Motor transport needed but will be considered in connection with other motor equipment. Omission of machine guns was probably inadvertent.
In reply to query about quantities Shaikh Yusuf said local government could use any quantity available. He added that equipment for war strength of 100,000 men is needed.
The approximate size of Saudi Army was indicated in Legation’s number 73, November 28, 5 p.m., 1942 to Cairo.73 All military equipment [Page 874] now on hand would doubtless be considered junk in any western country.
In my opinion tanks or any items supplied under categories 1 and 7 are not needed to maintain order in Saudi Arabia. Under some circumstances antiaircraft guns for Dhahran might be justified.
Repeated to Cairo.