Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

867N.01/1–449: Telegram

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

top secret

Jidda , January 4, 1949—11 p. m.

11. Dhahran’s 1, January 2 to Department.¹ This report believed without foundation.

At my request Deputy Foreign Minister² outlined viewpoint SAG regarding terms of extension airbase agreement.³ He stated:

1. SAG did not put any term on SAG–US friendship.

2. SAG could not conclude long term agreement at this time without causing repercussions in other Arab states owing to “negative” policy US had pursued so far as Arabs concerned in Palestine question. Despite such negative attitude SAG desired strongly conserve US friendship and as evidence thereof was willing prolong Dhahran agreement on temporary basis. It was for US to decide for itself policy towards Arabs and character friendship US wished with Arab world including Saudi Arabia and US might be sure any evidence given of US desire for properties would be immediately reciprocated.

Sent Department 11, repeated Dhahran 3.

Childs

1. Not printed; it reported a rumor that the Saudi Arabian Government would extend the Dhahran Air Field Agreement for 10 years if the United States would spend $27 million renovating the airfield during the first year of the new agreement (890F.7962/1–249).
2. Shaikh Yusuf Yassin.
3. The airport at Dhahran, which was built by the U.S. armed forces and completed in 1946, was operated by the Air Transport Command in an Agreement with the Government of Saudi Arabia. The Agreement was to last until March 15, 1949.