890F.24/3–1445: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Saudi Arabia ( Eddy )
117. [Here follows substance of memorandum of April 17 from the British Embassy, supra.]
The memorandum just described was obviously drafted before London received word of recent damage done by locusts (reurtel 164, April 15, 9 p.m.79).
Department’s attitude has been that Saudi Arabia’s minimum essential needs, both supply and budgetary, must be met (reDepts 8080) and information available has made it appear that such minimum needs in 1945 would require a supply program comparable to that of 1944 plus 8,000,000–10,000,000 lend lease riyals plus 17,000,000 conversion-plan riyals. Total value of assistance would be between $15,000,000 and $16,000,000 excluding conversion riyals; British proposal of $10,000,000 maximum therefore is inadequate.
FEA has not yet given definite assurance that it will finance entire 1945 program if so requested, but Department has reason to believe that it will.
[Page 878]Your 164 may require revision of estimated minimum essential needs. Please cable promptly your estimate of kinds and minimum quantities of cereals required in Saudi Arabia in 1945, as well as estimates of MESC or British Minister if different from your own. Also state quantity of cereals delivered to Saudi Arabia since completion of 1944 cereals program. Your comment is requested.
If possible the Department wishes to have your reply before meeting British Embassy members on April 21 at 11:00 a.m.
Sent to Jidda, repeated to Cairo.