501.BB Palestine (E)/10–249
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs ( McGhee ) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State ( Rusk )1
Subject: Assistance to Saudi Arabia in Developing its Water Resources
As you know, the most pressing single problem in the economy of Saudi Arabia is the more scientific use of its limited water resources. [Page 1617] In this connection the Government of Saudi Arabia has repeatedly turned to the United States for assistance. With this in mind, through the cooperation of the U.S. Air Force and the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of Interior, I arranged to have Ambassador J. Rives Childs visit certain reclamation projects in the south western part of the United States.
Attached is a memorandum dated September 27, 1949 written by Ambassador Childs following his western trip.2 In this memorandum he states “As a first step in assisting Saudi Arabia I recommend that the Department, under Public Law No. 402, endeavor to arrange with the Bureau of Reclamation for the services of a qualified Bureau engineer who either by himself or in cooperation with a representative of the United States Geological Survey, should undertake a preliminary study and report looking to the development of a plan for the proper utilization of surface and ground waters for the purpose of increasing agricultural production in Saudi Arabia.”
Before passing this memorandum on to you I have arranged to hold a series of talks with interested officials of the Government in regard to this recommendation. Arrangements have been completed whereby Smith–Mundt Act funds (Public Law No. 402) have been approved to provide visits by two ground water geologists to Saudi Arabia to initiate surveys there in the spring of 1950, and the Government of Saudi Arabia has been so notified. (See attached copy of Deptel 405, October 12 to Jidda).3 This is a first important step in ascertaining the extent of ground water supplies and assisting the Saudi Arabians to make better use of their water supplies. It is one which not only should lead to a higher standard of living in that country, but may make it possible for Saudi Arabia eventually to accept a certain number of refugees from Israel.
Ambassador Childs also recommended that “the Department give consideration in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, to the appointment of a suitable Bureau engineer as Attaché to one of the Missions in the Near East, charged with reporting upon and encouraging the application by the countries of the Near East of those methods we have successfully applied in the field of water conservation and irrigation which might have pertinent application in those countries.” Ambassador Childs suggested that such an Attaché might be attached to the Embassies either in Cairo or Baghdad, or to the Legation at Beirut, and I agree with his suggestion. I am, therefore, requesting the Administrative Officers of the Department and the Bureau of Reclamation to review this question.