Office of the Historian

611.86/4–2650: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia 1

confidential
Washington, May 2, 1950—3 p. m.

150. Dept approves your reply Shaikh Abdullah2 re reported pressure on AL by Emb Cairo (Embtel 238, Apr 263 and Cairo tel Apr 28 sent Dept 4254). It shld be noted that both Amir Faisel and Azzam Pasha have publicly disclaimed knowledge such incident. While many such charges cannot be dignified by public denial you shld take appropriate opportunity to stress informally that while US continues hope for stability and well being NE exercise of pressure is entirely contrary US policy and charges therefore unfounded.5

Acheson
  1. This telegram was repeated to Cairo.↩
  2. Abdullah Suleiman, Saudi Arabian Minister of Finance.↩
  3. Not printed; it stated that Ambassador Childs had commented to Shaikh Abdullah that the United States was not accustomed to dictating to other governments, that he had seen most of the Department of State’s instructions regarding relations between the Arab States and Israel and that he had seen no such instruction. He also stated that as far as he knew the policy of strict impartiality as between the Arab States and Israel had been pursued (684A.86/4–2650).↩
  4. Not printed; Ambassador Caffery advised that he had “consistently urged upon all responsible Egyptians to ‘go slowly’ in regard to Jordan. This Embassy has also made it clear to them, to all officials and visiting Arab leaders that the US hopes for prosperity, stability and security in ME; that peace between Israel and Arabs would contribute greatly to these objectives[;] and that in US view direct talk[s] between Israel and Arabs appear to be the most fruitful means of bringing about peace. ‘Pressure’ has not been exerted, nor has aid or other rewards from US been held out as inducement.” He also stated it was absurd to believe that an Embassy envoy had awakened Arab leaders at midnight to demand that Arabs make peace with Israel (611.86A/4–2850).↩
  5. Ambassador Childs, on May 4, discussed the substance of telegram 150 with Amir Faisal who stated that “these unfortunate misrepresentations are due not to what happened in Cairo but to policy previously pursued by US in Palestine matters. Press and diplomats mistakenly and unfortunately drew inferences on basis actions US with respect to Palestine pursued previously.” (Telegram 259, May 4, from Jidda, 611.86/5–450)↩