890F.24/10–3044: Telegram
The Minister in Saudi Arabia (Eddy) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 30—12:10 p.m.]
325. ReDepts 220 October 25, 7 p.m.70 Aramco report dated October 24 on visit of Ohliger and Lebkicher to Riyadh October 18 to 20 mailed to their home office. Recommend Department request copy urgently. King admitted consulting British on American proposals because he lacks any assurance of United States support. “Colonel Eddy called to see me last spring and asked questions about needs of Saudi Arabia. Colonel Eddy now back as Minister but has nothing whatever to say to me about American assistance,”
Aramco report emphasizes displeasure and possible disgust of King at lack of American policy assurances to him and implies greater confidence in British material help over many years.
Proposals for substantial United States cooperation should precede piece meal requests by us for air fields, radio communications et [Page 752] cetera which might be granted easily if King could count on United States support. Delay in riyal shipments has furthered [further lowered?] the American prestige (reLegs 324, October 30, 4 p.m.71) Aramco officials confirm my conviction that the favor of the King is at stake and his patience at low ebb.
- See footnote 64, p. 744.↩
- Not printed; in it and in telegram 318, October 24, 10 a.m., the Minister had reported that “American failure to keep schedules” in the delivery of 5 million riyals, stated to be en route to Jidda in mid-September, was “seriously embarrassing Saudi Government who cannot supply cash needs of pilgrims arriving in considerable numbers.” (890F.515/10–3044, 10–2444) In this connection, see Department’s telegram 182, September 16, 7 p.m., p. 742. In telegram 347, November 20, 5 p.m., the Minister reported that the 5 million riyals had arrived at Jidda by steamship and were delivered to the Saudi Arabian Government and receipted for on November 19 (890F.515/11–2044).↩