890F.51/5–2845
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Acheson)
Subject: Financial Assistance to Saudi Arabia
| Participants: | The President |
| The Under Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Bard | |
| The Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Acheson |
Under Secretary Bard and I saw the President by appointment on Monday, May 28. Prior to our visit the President’s Naval Aide, Captain Vardaman, had given the President the attached memorandum18 and had discussed the matter briefly with him.
At the President’s request, we showed the President the map which had been prepared on which the Middle Eastern Oil area is superimposed upon the map of the United States, and went over with him the various amounts of oil already proved in the area and the location of various concessions. We explained to the President the financial position of the King, his need for assistance, and the various possibilities by which the United States might furnish that assistance. We told the President of President Roosevelt’s approval in principle of seeking Congressional approval of American assistance and told him of our talks with House and Senate members.
The President said that we had his approval to go forward and stated that he would call Senator O’Mahoney,19 with whom we should also talk. The President subsequently did this.
Mr. Bard mentioned the fact that we had spoken to Secretary Ickes20 about this matter and that Secretary Ickes was not enthusiastic. [Page 903] He thought that Secretary Ickes might intervene in the matter and that it would certainly be confused if it were complicated by any idea of bringing Saudi Arabian oil into the United States. The President was familiar with Secretary Ickes’ attitude and told us that we were to go forward. We both gathered the impression that the President did not anticipate difficulty with the Petroleum Administration.