Office of the Historian

711.56386A/10–3050

President Truman to King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia1

secret
[Washington,] October 31, 1950.

Your Majesty: Upon sending to you my new Ambassador to reside near your Court, I wish to take occasion to renew to Your Majesty expressions of my sincere and lasting friendship toward yourself, the Royal Family and your people.

Your steadfast loyalty and good will, alike in times of stress as in days of happiness and well-being, have ever been sources of pride and pleasure to me and to the American people. Our countries have been comrades in arms together and we have common cause in opposing the godless forces of Communism which are endeavoring to destroy freedom throughout the world. I count it a high tribute to the United States to have support of so illustrious a warrier as yourself in this struggle.

The efforts you are making to develop your country and improve the standards of living for your people are admirable and praiseworthy. [Page 1191] I am proud that American enterprise has been able to assist you in such worthy projects.

I wish to renew to Your Majesty the assurances which have been made to you several times in the past, that the United States is interested in the preservation of the independence and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia. No threat to your Kingdom could occur which would not be a matter of immediate concern to the United States.

The health of Your Majesty is a subject of no less importance and I pray that you will be long preserved for the welfare of your country and the happiness of your people.2

Faithfully yours,

Harry S. Truman

  1. A draft of the source text was attached to a memorandum from McGhee to the Secretary of State, dated October 24, not printed, with a recommendation that the Secretary send it to the White House for the President’s signature. The letter was prepared for Ambassador Hare to present to the King soon after he presented his credentials and before he began negotiations for a renewal of the Dhahran Airfield Agreement. (711.56386A/10–2450)

    The Secretary transmitted the letter to the President with a memorandum, dated October 30, not printed, with a recommendation that the President sign it. The President signed the letter on October 31 and William J. Hopkins, Executive Clerk, sent it back to the Secretary attached to a memorandum, not printed, for Ambassador Hare. (711.56386A/10–3050)

    The Secretary transmitted the letter to Ambassador Hare in Jidda as an enclosure to Instruction 15, not printed. Hare was instructed to inform the King orally that he might make public use of the letter if he wished. (711.56386A/11–350) In telegram 400, December 24, from Jidda, p. 1197, he reported presenting the President’s letter to the King in December.

    ↩
  2. A translation of the King’s letter of reply to President Truman, dated Riyadh, January 14, 1951, together with the original in Arabic, was transmitted to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 250 from Jidda, February 1, 1951 (711.56386A/2–1551). The King’s reply was forwarded to the President on February 27 under cover of a memorandum by Acting Secretary Webb (711.56386A/2–1551).↩