867N.01/10–3047: Telegram
President Truman to King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud 1
Your Majesty[:] I have received your communication of Oct 26, 1947 and desire to assure Your Majesty that I have given it most careful consideration. I regret to learn of your belief that the relations between the Arabs and the United States are clouded, in view of the close ties between them which have become closer with time in view of our mutual political and economic interests.
As Your Majesty knows, the Palestine problem is now before the General Assembly of the United Nations, and it is the view of the United States Government, as stated by its representative to the appropriate organ of the United Nations on Oct 11, 19472 that the United Nations “must do everything within its power to evolve a practical solution consistent with the principles laid down in the United Nations Charter.”
At the present time the members of the United Nations, all of whom are represented in the General Assembly including Saudi Arabia, which has as its representative your honored and distinguished son,3 are making their respective contributions to a solution of this difficult and complex question. As in any representative body of this kind, friendly and honest differences of opinions, whether held by large or small nations, should contribute to the ultimate achievement of a just and workable solution.
The approach of the Government of Saudi Arabia and of the Government of the United States to this particular matter is obviously different for several reasons; nevertheless I am firmly convinced that both Governments earnestly desire solution of international difficulties [Page 1278] based upon reason, peace, and justice. The United States considers that the United Nations has an indispensable part to play in the solution of difficult problems such as the Palestine problem, and for its part, is fully disposed to accept the decisions of the United Nations in this as in other matters which come within its jurisdiction.
One of the important factors influencing the decision of the United States Government to support the majority plan of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine was the fact that it represented the majority views of a committee specially appointed by the United Nations to consider the question. The United States decision was not based on any desire to be unfriendly to the Arabs, and should not be construed as an unfriendly act, any more than the decision taken in this respect by other members of the United Nations. In the General Assembly the vote of the United States counts for no more than the vote of any other country, large or small.
In line with its support of the United Nations our delegation has made it clear that the United States wishes to abide by the decision of the United Nations and is confident that in conformity with the United Nations Charter all members of the United Nations will take a similar attitude.
I sincerely trust that the foregoing will serve to confirm to Your Majesty once more the friendly feelings which the Government and people of the United States have for the Government and people of Saudi Arabia, and their strong hope that the present amicable and useful relations will emerge from the present period, which is recognized as one of some strain and perplexity, stronger than before.
- Transmitted to Jidda in telegram 363, November 21, 5 p.m., with the notation: “Convey to King following reply Pres Truman message Legtel 456 Oct 30”. Regarding telegram 456 from Jidda, see footnote 1, p. 1212. The concluding paragraph of telegram 363 read: “Sent Jidda, repeated London, and repeated Cairo for repetition Jerusalem and Arab capitals.”↩
- See editorial note, p. 1180.↩
- Amir Faisal.↩