867N.01/10–2344
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Murray)27
I believe that you will wish to note the two attached telegrams from Jerusalem28 regarding the action of the Arab Chambers of Commerce in Jerusalem and Haifa in cancelling meetings which had been scheduled with the Culbertson Mission.
That this action was taken in protest against the President’s recent message to the Zionists is quite evident from the statement of the Arab Chamber of Commerce in Jerusalem to the effect that:
“We would like this action of the Chamber to be read as a protest against the President’s pronouncement, and as a sign of our unlimited disappointment.”
[Here follows additional quotation and comment based on telegram 156.]
Episodes of this kind may, if they spread to other parts of the Arab world, create a very serious problem for American interests in that area. To be specific, if King Ibn Saud ever adopts this form of reasoning, our great economic stake in Saudi Arabia might well become so compromised that our efforts through ordinary diplomatic channels to protect our interests there might be unavailing.