890F.00/12–849
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Frederick H. Awalt of the Office of African and Near Eastern Affairs
| Participants: | Brig. Gen. O’Keefe, USAF |
| NEA—Mr. D. A. Robertson | |
| ANE—Mr. G. H. Mattison | |
| ANE—Mr. F. H. Awalt |
Problem: To consider means of implementing the O’Keefe recommendations.
Action Taken: Telegram despatched to Ambassador Childs requesting his political paper as soon as possible. (Desp. 231, Nov. 22, 1949,1 citing political reasons supporting O’Keefe report, received Dec. 9)
Action Required:
- 1.
- To cooperate with USAF and the Department of Defense toward obtaining the legislative authority necessary to implement the O’Keefe report.
- 2.
- Expedite receipt of Childs’ paper on the political implications of military assistance to Saudi Arabia.
Action Assigned to: NEA, ANE
Summary: General O’Keefe called this morning to discuss in general terms his recently completed survey in Saudi Arabia. He stated that between September 1 and October 22 he and his party travelled 44,000 miles throughout Arabia and collected a fund of strategic information which has never before been available. He made recommendations which embrace the training and equipping of a Saudi Arabian defensive force totalling 43,000 officers and men, composed of 28,000 combat troops and 15,000 Air Force support and logistics personnel. The equipment contemplated for these forces is strictly defensive in character such as rifles, mortars and anti-tank guns. No offensive mechanized equipment such as tanks or fighter planes is envisaged, although 28 planes of the super DC–3 type, which should be commercially available, are being recommended, as well as 5 C–54’s. The program is estimated to cost the Saudi Arabian Government a total of $107,000,000 spread over a five year period. The project includes plans for some naval facilities which will cost the Saudi Arabian Government $8,000,000. The Saudi Arabian Government’s expenditures for air equipment will be $19,000,000, and the remainder is Army costs. General O’Keefe emphasized that all equipment must be new owing to the very unsatisfactory experience the Saudi Arabian [Page 1626] Government has had with used materials purchased from the British which have in many instances proved unusable. He also stated that the program will call for 320 Saudi Arabian air trainees, 67 naval trainees, and 488 army trainees to be trained in the United States during the 5 year period, and that an auxiliary field is projected for the Hail area after two years.
King Ibn Saud has expressed general satisfaction for the plan outlined to him by General O’Keefe, but he has reserved full approbation. The General expressed the opinion that the King’s fears for the safety of his country from invasion by his neighbors was sincere but ill-founded in fact, owing to the long and vulnerable line of communications an invader would have to maintain. He stressed the need for the force recommended, however, as a steadying influence upon Emir Saud’s succession, as well as a means of strengthening Ibn Saud’s hand among the other Arab countries, a development which could exert a valuable influence toward moderation in Near Eastern affairs. He also pointed out that it would be a useful force for our purposes in the event of war with Russia.
Emir Saud told General O’Keefe confidentially that he was heartily in favor of the report’s findings and hoped that prompt action could be taken to implement them, adding that the program would serve his own interests and security when he succeeded to the throne. General O’Keefe is very doubtful that Emir Feisal views United States military assistance with similar favor.
The General stated that the Air Force was in the past convinced that it was essential that we maintain an air base in Arabia and it is willing to go before Budget to support a request for $19,000,000 of United States expenditure for improvement of the air base and its training facilities, followed by an additional $8,000,000 per year for each year we wish to maintain it thereafter. Three alternative plans for improving the air base will be discussed in the report:
- (1)
- Rehabilitation and expansion of the air base to include new barracks to accommodate 1700 people, a railway spur, and extension of air strips to accommodate larger planes. This would have an estimated cost of $28,000,000;
- (2)
- Construction of an entirely new air base on a nearby plain which would accommodate any size plane, 6600 personnel, and would cost $50,000,000;
- (3)
- Construction of an entirely new air base completely underground in the Abu Bahr plain 450 miles in the interior to the south and west. This project would have an estimated cost of $70,000,000.
General O’Keefe hoped his report could be done Christmas week and ready for transmittal through the Air Chief of Staff to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for consideration. He inquired if Ambassador Childs’ paper on the political implications of military assistance to Saudi [Page 1627] Arabia had arrived. He asked that the Department urge Embassy Jidda to submit it as soon as possible so that it could be incorporated into his final report. General O’Keefe, at Mr. Robertson’s request, offered to show him all the data he has compiled in order that Mr. Robertson might prepare advance information for submission to Mr. Bruce,2 S/MDA. In conclusion he expressed his confidence that the Air Force would approve his report.
The preliminary data was released under the authority of Major General S. E. Anderson3 with the understanding that it was not a commitment of the views of the Air Force, but only for information purposes.