611.90F31/12–2045: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Saudi Arabia ( Eddy )

365. Following is text of draft note on commercial matters which you are authorized to submit to SAG49 in such manner and at such time as you deem appropriate. True copy follows by air pouch:50

I have the honor to make the following statement of my Government’s understanding of the agreement reached through recent conversations held at Jidda by representatives of the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with reference to the treatment which the United States of America will accord to the commerce of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will accord to the commerce of the United States of America. These two Governments, desiring to affirm their adherence to a program of purposes and policies, open to participation by all other countries of like mind, designed to bring about an expansion of international trade on a broad basis and directed to the elimination of all forms of discriminatory treatment in international commerce, and desiring to maintain the most-favored-nation principle in its unconditional and unlimited form as the basis of their commercial relations, agree to supplement the provisional agreement between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in regard to diplomatic and consular representation, juridical protection, commerce and navigation, signed November 7, 1933, with the following provisions:

[Here follows the text of the proposed provisions.]

If the above provisions are acceptable to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this note and the reply signifying assent thereto shall, if agreeable to that Government, be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments which shall become effective 15 days after the date of such acceptance.

Acheson

[The draft commercial accord was handed to the Saudi Arabian Government late in December 1945, but there were no discussions until May 1947.]

  1. Saudi Arabian Government.
  2. Instruction 377, December 29, 1945, not printed.