611.80/9–654: Telegram
No. 891
The Ambassador in Saudi Arabia
(Wadsworth) to
the Department of State
priority
101. Personal for Assistant Secretary Byroade from Ambassador. Re Depcirtels 1081 and 125.2
- 1.
Many times have I blessed you for telling me on eve my departure for this post nine months ago that I need not crack my brains over Arab-Israeli problem; this was to be a straight bilateral US-Saudi relations job.
At Istanbul, however, I welcomed opportunity associate myself with conference recommendations notably as to reaffirming and strengthening tripartite declaration as deterrent to threatening Israeli expansionism.
That threat seems today even more acute whereas policy you are now considering seems by comparison with that recommended at Istanbul distressingly inadequate; and I feel sure that to Arabs conclusion of treaty with Israel and reaffirmation of traditional friendship for States of area would seem mockery of self-contradiction.
I fear it is not inapposite to recall comment often heard earlier years that road to Palestine disaster was paved with palliatives.
- 2.
- I would like proposed restatement of policy much better if
following indicated deletions and changes could be made:
Let opening paragraph read simply: “traditional friendship of US for all States of area remains firm.”
Let second sentence of second paragraph also read simply: “present absence of peace perpetuates weakness in area:” and I should prefer delete third sentence this paragraph.
In third paragraph delete all of third sentence and first clause of fourth sentence which would then begin: “US Government will take measures to ensure”.
In first sentence fourth paragraph delete words “Israel” and “Arab”. Begin fourth sentence with “US believes” instead of “US is confident”; and in fifth sentence change “confidence” to “belief”.
Finally in same sentence because current threat comes rather from Israel than from any Arab State it would seem well to reverse order of promised armed attacks; and I should prefer to see last two sentences this paragraph set forth as separate final paragraph of statement beginning: “Fifth US believes”.
Please have statement re-typed this alternate form and look at it carefully. In this form I think it can be sold to Arabs; in yours I fear it will be but last of long line ineffective palliatives.