611.86/5–2150: Telegram
The Ambassador in Saudi Arabia (Childs) to the Secretary of State
302. ReEmbtel 301, May 20. Shaikh Yusuf said to me at Foreign Office today he wished to add under instructions HM certain information to that given me yesterday, but which he did not wish reveal in presence Syrian Prime Minister.
YY said while in Cairo, he had informed Egyptian Foreign Minister King Ibn Saud’s displeasure with Dawalibi’s statement. Egyptian Foreign Minister had replied statement was reflection of wide-spread public feeling and committee Egyptian Parliament had adopted unanimously resolution in this sense. Azzam Pasha had informed Yusuf he fully subscribed to statement, although Yusuf had urged him not to state so publicly and Azzam had retracted statement, although in very equivocal manner.
Egyptian Foreign Minister had told Yusuf Arab states disappointed King Ibn Saud had not been able exert greater influence with USG to obtain Arab rights. Both US and UK were making difficulties re arms shipments needed defense purposes, and were doing nothing to accede Egyptian Government’s desire evacuation British troops from Suez. Russia was buying Egyptian cotton and selling Egypt wheat and if US and UK cooperation unobtainable, Egypt would have no difficulty in obtaining arms from Russia or in concluding a nonaggression pact with Russia which would make presence British troops unnecessary.
Egyptian Foreign Minister emphasized no responsible leader in Arab world wished Communism in their country but US and UK had cooperated recently during war for defeat Germany and Arab states might be forced make such diplomatic alliance if US and UK continued deaf to Arab pleas for justice and if US continued its all-out support Israel at expense Arab states.
I remarked I had too great a respect for Shaikh Yusuf’s intelligence to be under necessity of pointing out to him fallacies in these arguments. Dawalibi had stated Arabs preferred Soviet to Zionist regime. Yusuf would agree by no stretch of imagination could any US policy be interpreted as directed toward Zionisation Arab world. One had only to look to Eastern Europe to see what would happen Arabs under Soviet regime.
Yusuf said what Dawalibi said was not so important as causes behind it and fact it symbolized wide-spread resentment and bitterness on part both people and responsible leaders against manner in which Arab states had been treated. It was most important to endeavor to remove these causes, although he had no suggestions or proposals to [Page 910] offer but left this for us. He hoped we would treat information confidential as Egyptian Government might not welcome divulging to another government secret conversations between SAG and EG.
I informed Yusuf my government would appreciate confidence reposed in it.
Sent Department 302, repeated information London 69, Baghdad 28, Tel Aviv 10, Damascus 35, Jerusalem 6, Beirut 17, Cairo 63, Amman 15, Geneva 3 (for PCC), Moscow unnumbered.