Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East and Africa, Volume VIII

890F.50/145

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Parker)

[Washington,] January 1, 1945.

Participants:	Mr. Michael Wright, Counselor of British Embassy
	Mr. Murray, NE A4
	Mr. Ailing, NEA5
	Mr. Parker, NE

Mr. Murray began by stating that unlike the British Government, which has funds available for such purposes, this Government has been obliged to rely upon lend lease as a means of rendering financial assistance to Saudi Arabia. This, he pointed out, is only a temporary expedient on our part which, of course, is not a very satisfactory method of providing such assistance. We have, therefore, been making plans to secure adequate funds for assisting Saudi Arabia on a sound, long-range basis. Necessarily legislative authorization will be required to obtain such funds. For this reason it is not possible as yet to explain our plans in detail.

Mr. Murray continued by stating that the Department has instructed the American Minister⁶ to inform King Ibn Saud⁷ at the time of his forthcoming visit to Jidda that we are making plans of the aforementioned character and will acquaint him with the details of these plans at such time as it may be possible to do so. We shall also, Mr. Murray stated, inform the British Government of the nature of these plans at the time we convey this information to the King.

Mr. Murray stated further that our Minister is not informing Mr. Jordan, his British colleague, of the message he is about to convey to the King because of Mr. Jordan’s generally uncooperative attitude in the past.⁸ Mr. Murray referred to Mr. Jordan’s action in at least two cases (i.e., the Dhahran airfield and the radio station matters⁹) in discussing matters of interest to this Government with Saudi Arabian officials without acting jointly with our Minister in regard to these matters. Cooperation, Mr. Murray pointed out, works both ways, and, if Mr. Jordan acts alone, of course our Minister must do likewise.

Mr. Wright inquired whether it would be possible at this time to provide detailed information about our plans for assisting Saudi Arabia. Mr. Murray replied that our plans are not yet in final shape and that, therefore, we could not discuss them as yet in detail.

Mr. Wright stated that just before coming to the Department he had read through hastily a telegram to his Embassy just received from the Foreign Office regarding the 1944 joint supply program and certain plans for 1945. He said that he had not had an opportunity to digest this telegram fully but that he would like to discuss this matter further at the Department on the afternoon of January 3. It was agreed that Mr. Wright should return at that time to continue the discussions.¹⁰

4. Wallace Murray, Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs.
5. Paul H. Alling, Deputy Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs.
6. Col. William A. Eddy, Minister to Saudi Arabia.
7. Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, King of Saudi Arabia.
8. For documentation regarding the dissatisfaction of the United States Government with Mr. Jordan’s activities, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, pp. 752 ff., passim.
9. For documentation regarding the proposed establishment of a direct radiotelegraph circuit between the United States and Saudi Arabia, see ibid., pp. 760 ff.
10. No record of further discussions on January 3 found in Department files.