890D.00/4–947: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation in Saudi Arabia
91. With further reference to SAG fears that an effort was about to be made by Brit to place King Abdullah of Transjordan upon throne of a Greater Syria, as indicated in Legtel 50 Feb 111 and by Amir Saud on recent visit to US, you may now inform SAG of substance of Dept’s two approaches to Brit Govt and of replies repeated Jidda in London tels 2, 6 and 8,2 using your discretion in conveying details. You may state our hope that representations to Brit have brought home forcefully our concern in matter and will have beneficial influence. You may also take occasion to reiterate our attitude re Greater Syria project as stated by Sec Byrnes to Crown Prince Saud on Jan 17 and reiterate See’s suggestion that if King Ibn Saud at any time should receive specific info re political or military developments which might threaten Saudi Arabia, he might care to convey his info at once to US Govt which would then make appropriate inquiries.3
Sent Jidda 91; repeated London 1570; Beirut 173; Damascus 81; Baghdad 126; Jerusalem 146; Cairo 558.
- Not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 742.↩
- Nos. 2 and 6 were repeats of Nos. 1106, February 18, and 1604, March 13, pp. 742, 744. No. 8 was a repeat of No. 1841, March 25, 1 p. m., not printed.↩
- The Minister in Saudi Arabia, J. Rives Childs, made the communication authorized by this telegram in a letter to King Ibn Saud dated April 12, 1947, a copy of which was transmitted to the Department in despatch 211 from Jidda on April 14, not printed. (890D.00/4–1447) He received a reply from the King dated April 20, a translation of which was sent in telegram 144 from Jidda on April 23, also not printed. (890D.00/4–2347) The King expressed his great thanks for the letter which had contained welcome information about the endeavors and concern of the government of the United States regarding the project of Greater Syria, and especially for the declaration of the United States that its policy in the Near and Middle East was to maintain peace in this area. At the same time the King warned that he had information that activity for a Greater Syria was still afoot, and he hoped that the United States would continue its efforts, and would induce the British Government to announce its policy toward Greater Syria in parliament, which the King believed would have the best effect in pacifying agitated spirits.↩