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  4. Document 661

890F.001/1–945

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt

Washington , January 9, 1945.

I think that you will be particularly interested in these two telegrams from Jidda8 regarding King Ibn Saud’s attitude toward Pan-Arab matters and the Palestine question.

We attach considerable importance to his action in signing the Protocol of Alliance between the Arab states drawn up at the recent Alexandria conference, first, because there was some question whether Saudi Arabia would sign the agreement at all, and, second, because in doing so the King has proposed certain amendments to make the Alliance more effective, with particular reference to Palestine.

Ibn Saud’s statement that he regards himself as a champion of the Arabs of Palestine and would himself feel it an honor to die in battle in their cause is, of course, of the greatest significance.

E. R. Stettinius, Jr.
  1. Telegram 8, January 4, 1945, 1 p.m., not printed; and telegram 9 supra.↩