Office of the Historian

890F.24/7–1645: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Saudi Arabia (Eddy)

Washington, July 16, 1945—7 p.m.

204. Brit Emb Washington has at last received approval from London text suggested joint communication to Ibn Saud by American-Brit Ministers re commodity content Saudi Arabian 1945 joint supply program. London has suggested following changes in text sent you 187 July 5 to which we agree.

1.
Last sentence of para 2 can be construed as suggesting possible continuance of program in 1946. Therefore delete entire sentence 2 para 2 beginning “the delivery during” and substitute following sentence “And during the first half of 1945 substantial quantities of tires, [Page 931] trucks and cereals were delivered in addition to certain remaining balances of goods which the two Governments agreed to deliver as part of their assistance for the year 1944.”
2.
Para 3(c) under quantity should be changed to read “8,500 tires 8,500 tubes.”
3.
Para 3(d) under item should be changed to read “automotive replacement parts of US manufacture.”
4.
At the end of para 5 change “Saudi Arabia this year if possible” to “Saudi Arabia throughout 1945 if possible.”

London expressed the desire that the joint communication deal only with the joint supply progam and that any assistance provided outside the joint program be the subject of separate communications to SAG. Although the Brit are fully aware of and accept the principle of supplementary US supply program they do not wish the subject raised in the joint communication. Therefore the whole of para 6 beginning “the assistance provided” should be omitted.

You are authorized to make any minor changes in wording that may seem necessary to you and to Brit Minister.

Pres Truman has signed lend lease appropriation bill64 and funds are now assured for US 5 million dollar share 1945 Saudi Arabian joint supply program plus supplemental US aid program of 10 million riyals and 3 million dollars worth of commodities.

You are herewith instructed to join with your Brit colleague in giving to SAG at whatever location seems most advantageous the joint communication first sent you in Depts 187 July 5 as corrected Depts 197 of July 13 and above.

You are also instructed to communicate to SAG in whatever form and whatever place and time you feel most desirable (as per para 5 through 12 of Deptel 186 July 4) info re additional US aid of 10 million riyals and 3 million dollars worth of commodities.

Sent Jidda repeated Cairo.

Grew
  1. Lend-lease appropriations were approved on July 5, 1945, as part of the Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1945, 59 Stat. 412, 429.↩