890F.6363/12–649: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Legation in Saudi Arabia
462. Urtel 708, Dec 6.1 Dept appreciative of difficulties which SAG finding in attempts settle outstanding boundary questions, and wishes in this as in other questions to be as helpful as possible. However there are natural limits to what we can do particularly in matters which involve intervention with other govts and in which different American companies may well have conflicting interests.
For above reasons Depts position must remain basically as outlined Deptel 184, May 13. In circumstances, and in order to avoid creating impression with SAG that US willing to go further than already indicated, Dept desires that in accepting detailed report from SAG you make clear that this not a question in which Dept can give disinterested advice such as off-shore question which concerned basic principles rather than specific boundaries which involve other govts. Dept believes it desirable therefore that SAG continue with negotiations rather than awaiting comments which USG may or may not be able to make.2
- Not printed; it advised that Yusuf Yassin had shown Ambassador Childs the British note of December 4, “stating unless SAG willing recede its unreasonable position last note Britain would have to go back to 1913 claim.” The Acting Foreign Minister stated that the King wished the Ambassador’s advice as to how to proceed. The Ambassador referred the matter to the Department, commenting that “In view our relationship to SAG and SAG’s usual tendency to lean on us for disinterested advice, I feel we should do everything we consider appropriate to assist it in consideration problem” (890F.6363/12–649).↩
- The Department instructed further, on December 29, that the “Emb shld avoid making any commitment SAG re part US may be expected play in problem.” (Telegram 471, 890F.20/12–1949)↩