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

890F.7962/6–449

The Ambassador in Saudi Arabia (Childs) to the King of Saudi Arabia (Ibn Saud)

top secret

Aide-Mémoire¹

The American Ambassador stated to His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia that he was most happy to give some of the immediate results of the earnest studies made by the United States Government having to do with His Majesty’s proposals put forward over the preceding months.

The Ambassador stated that President Truman has received His Majesty’s letter of March 31st and that a reply to it had been dispatched from Washington on May 24, 1949. The Ambassador had been authorized to inform His Majesty that in this letter the President discusses the Dhahran Airfield Agreement. The President further expresses the hope that the one year agreement may be concluded promptly so that we may proceed with plans and negotiations for a long term agreement. The President states he is directing the Department of State and the United States National Military Establishment to make a careful study in order that negotiations for a long term agreement can be initiated at an early date.

The Ambassador observed that the study directed by the President has already received the urgent attention of the Department and the National Military Establishment and the following reflects the action and thinking of the United States Government with regard to Saudi Arabia:

1. In planning an over-all world-wide military assistance program, Saudi Arabia’s needs have been given the most careful consideration. Under the program as being proposed to the United States Congress, Saudi Arabia would be eligible to obtain United States Government assistance in the procurement of military equipment on a cash reimbursable basis. The Ambassador had been instructed to inform His Majesty of the foregoing in the greatest confidence and to state that Saudi Arabia is the only Arab state scheduled for assistance under this program.

2. Because the outcome of the plan set forth above depends on the enactment of a legislative program not yet presented to the Congress and over which lengthy discussions may well ensue, the Department of State has endeavored to arrive at other ways and means whereby the United States Government can be of help to the Saudi Arabian Government. The Ambassador has accordingly been authorized to inform His Majesty that if His Majesty felt that a useful purpose would thereby be served, the Department of State was willing to request immediately that the National Military Establishment assign a special group of officers on a temporary basis to Dhahran Airfield. These officers would have a dual purpose:

a. In concert with Saudi Arabian officials to make an over-all study of Saudi Arabian defense needs and to make specific recommendations for the organization and equipment of Saudi Arabian defense forces.

b. To make a study of United States requirements at Dhahran Airfield for the purpose of a long term agreement and how these requirements could best be linked and correlated with Saudi Arabia’s military needs.²

3. When this planning group has submitted recommendations and these recommendations have been concurred in by the Saudi Arabian Government and the United States Government, and if by that time the United States and United Nations arms embargo is still in effect, the United States Government would be willing to request permission from the United Nations Mediator for shipment to Saudi Arabia of equipment for training such defensive forces as are needed for internal security. Should objections exist, arrangements might be made whereby title to equipment would remain with the United States until permission would be granted. In any event, it is envisaged that training would be conducted as part of an enlarged Dhahran Airfield program under a long term agreement.

4. It is probable that any program would involve the training of a certain number of Saudi Arabian officers in the United States. Hitherto, because of United Nations truce resolutions, the United States Government has refused to permit the training of officers in the United States (except for the limited number of Saudi Arabian students from Dhahran Airfield being instructed in airport operations). Because of the improvement in the Palestine situation, this policy has now been modified, subject to the ability and willingness of the National Military Establishment to receive such trainees.

5. With a program of the type outlined above, it is believed that progress can be made in achieving the security which His Majesty so earnestly desires, and in which the United States Government also has a great interest.

Riyadh, May 30, 1949.

1. The aide-mémoire was based on the Department’s telegram 201, May 27, to Jidda (890F.7962/5–2649); not printed. Ambassador Childs handed the aide-mémoire to King Ibn Saud after orally communicating the substance of the telegram to him.

   The aide-mémoire was transmitted to the Department in despatch 152, June 4, from Jidda; not printed.

2. King Ibn Saud’s approval for the sending of the United States mission to the Dhahran Airfield was conveyed to Ambassador Childs in an aide-mémoire of May 31; not printed. A copy of the aide-mémoire was transmitted to the Department in despatch 152.