890F.248/5–945

The Secretary of War ( Stimson ) to the Acting Secretary of State

Dear Mr. Secretary: I have your undated letter1 referring to negotiations concerning the construction of an airfield at Dhahran and improvements to the Jidda field.

The War Department cannot justify the use of military resources for improvement or construction of an airdrome at Jidda for which no military requirement exists.

It is recommended, therefore, that the Legation at Jidda not be given discretionary authority to agree that the Army will carry out the desired improvements at Jidda if, in the Legation’s opinion, such agreement is necessary to secure the field at Dhahran together with transit rights.

Henry L. Stimson
  1. Ante, p. 884.