890F.24/63: Telegram
The Minister Resident in Saudi Arabia (Moose) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 18—4:21 a.m.]
161. Department’s 88, October 14, 10 p.m. When Colonel Alton Howard was in Jidda September 26 to discuss Lend-Lease arms for Saudi Arabia he advised that General Royce was ready to send a military mission to Arabia if so requested by the King and that General Royce planned to go as far as Riyadh with any such mission. Matter was mentioned to King at Colonel Howard’s specific request and King has now asked for army mission to make survey and recommendations as to military needs of Arabia.
In addition to accurate determination of Saudi arms needs sending military mission and supplying equipment will be useful for American standing particularly in focusing attention on American aid to Saudi Arabia hitherto largely obscured by the greater extent of British help.
It would appear from Department’s 88 that mission is not ready to come to Arabia immediately and permission is requested to delay [Page 907] trip to Cairo authorized in Department’s 86, October 12, 9 p.m.97 so as to avoid excessive period of waiting there.
Repeated to Cairo.
- Not printed; in this telegram the Department had directed Minister Moose to proceed to Cairo about October 18, and to “accompany the American Military Mission which will travel through Saudi Arabia.” (123 Moose, James S./457)↩