Editorial Note
On August 18, 1947, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Yussef, handed a translation of a telegram to the American Minister which had come from King Ibn Saud, with the remark that this message had crossed the Minister’s aide-mémoire of August 9 (not printed, see footnote 6, supra). The translation of the King’s telegram was sent by Minister Childs from Jidda in telegram 340 on August 19, not printed. (890D.00/8–1947) The King’s message spoke about a declaration made on August 11, by King Abdullah that he intended soon to call a general conference to elaborate a plan for the unity or union of Syria, the Lebanon, Palestine, and Transjordan in order that an end would be put by him to the Zionist danger threatening Palestine. Abdullah declared that he would express his idea to all Syrians, and would request the Syrian Government to call for the convocation of a general conference to consider several questions, among which would be a call for the establishment of Greater Syria as a federal state, which would include Iraq and Syria. (In addition to further details contained in this telegram, the Embassy in Cairo sent a free translation of Abdullah’s declaration in despatch 2838 on August 21, not printed; 890D.00/8–2147.)
This activity by Abdullah, as well as reports received from other sources, caused King Ibn Saud to give instructions that the American Minister should be informed of these matters and that he should be requested to report to his government that Abdullah’s movement was steadily gaining momentum. The hope was expressed that the United States would give this trend prompt consideration and that it might stop the movement, thereby preventing inimical results to Saudi Arabian interests.