800.24/1160: Airgram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 7—2 p.m.]
A–766. Embassy’s 4454, July 8, 5 p.m.87 The following further communication has just been received from the Foreign Office:
“In Mr. Freeman Matthews’88 letter of the 21st June, it was stated that the United States Legation at Jedda had been instructed by the State Department to inform the Saudi Arabian authorities that it is the policy of the Government of the United States to receive enquiries regarding the availability of United States military supplies directly from the appropriate representatives of the Governments of the independent countries of the Near East, and to add that if it is feasible such supplies will be furnished them.
- “2. In consequence of this communication, the Saudi Arabian Government have supplied the United States representative at Jedda with a copy of the list of the Saudi Arabian Government’s requirements of military equipment, as already communicated to His Majesty’s Government. The United States representative has been asked to inform his Government that, while the Saudi Arabian Government understand that the list will be considered by the Joint Anglo-American Munitions Board, they will be grateful if the United States Government can supply independently any items that might otherwise not be available.
- “3. The list of the Saudi Arabian Government’s
requirements of military equipment includes the following
items in order of priority:—
- “(1) s.a.a. workshop; machine tools for repairing rifles; (involving loan of technicians to train Saudi Arabian operatives).
- “(2) Rifles and rifle ammunition.
- “(3) Armoured cars suitable for both mountainous and sandy country.
- “(4) Light artillery.
- “(5) Anti-aircraft guns.
- “(6) Aircraft.
- “4. It is clearly desirable, in the view of His Majesty’s Government, that Ibn Saud should possess sufficient arms and military equipment to enable him to maintain order among his tribesmen throughout his territories. On the other hand, it is considered undesirable that he should be provided with more arms and military equipment than are strictly necessary for the maintenance of internal order. The United States Government will appreciate that for a great many years much effort has been devoted to suppressing or controlling the traffic in arms in and from the Arabian peninsula, and to preventing so far as possible undue quantities finding their way there. Now, in particular, the supply of an excessive quantity of arms might eventually have results unfavourable to general security in the Middle East. In the first place, it is impossible to foretell how these arms might be used in the period of political uncertainty in Arabia which is likely to follow in Ibn Saud’s death. Secondly, the acquisition by Ibn Saud of large quantities of arms might very easily have the effect of alarming neighbouring countries. Thirdly, there is the probability that arms would be smuggled into Palestine in the event of Arab-Jewish disturbances.
- “5. After taking these considerations into account and
after full consideration by the British military
authorities, our conclusions are that Ibn Saud should not be
provided with more than:—
- “(a) 50 light reconnaissance cars with immediate delivery:
- “(b) 500 light machine guns;
- “(c) 10,000 rifles and ammunition later in 1943.
- “6. It will be appreciated that the Saudi Arabian Government are not in a position to pay for any of this material.
- “7. The responsibility for allocating military equipment to the United Nations and their Allies rests with the Munitions Assignments Boards in London and Washington both of which are Anglo-American bodies. As the United States Embassy are aware there has been an understanding between these Boards over the past 18 months as to the procedure for handling the requirements for military equipment of various countries and theatres. This understanding has been based upon the strategical responsibility for these countries or theatres as between the British Chiefs of Staff and the United States Chiefs of Staff. Negotiations are now in progress between the two Boards in order to reach a formal agreement on this matter.
- “8. In the meantime His Majesty’s Government will be glad to learn as soon as possible whether the United States Government agree with the views expressed above. These views are known to the British members of the London and Washington Boards and no doubt the State Department will wish to consider them in conjunction with the United States members of the Boards. His Majesty’s Government would also be glad to know whether the United States Government agree that any United States military equipment allocated to Ibn Saud will be regarded as lease-lend material, while any British military equipment so allocated should be a gift from the British Government.”