890F.51/1–145: Telegram
The Minister in Saudi Arabia (Eddy) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 2—1:26 a.m.]
3. King Abdul Aziz expressed gratitude for message Department’s 283, December 24, 2 p.m.11 which I delivered to him in private audience today. He welcomed prospect of early accords with United States Government which in the past either referred him to British or seemed to accept unsatisfactory British terms of joint proposals to him.
King stated bluntly, “I have always found goodness and honor in my American friends, and usually in my British friends, including the former Minister Mr. Bird.12 But Jordan is our enemy and an enemy [Page 847] of the USA too. To the extent of his power he has sought to prevent our good relations and to injure my country. Except for his evil influence, I am sure the mutual interests of Saudi Arabia and the USA would have developed more rapidly months ago. I have confirmed that his more malicious acts were his own without knowledge of the British Government.”
King urged again need for transport especially trucks to move essential goods stating that depreciation of vehicles and cannibalization of cars to secure spare parts make situation desperate.
- Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, p. 759.↩
- Francis H. W. Stonehewer-Bird, British Minister in Saudi Arabia, 1940 to 1943.↩