Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “King Saud/Eisenhower

No. 1538
President Eisenhower to King Ibn Saud1

secret

Your Majesty: I am most happy to learn from reports received from the United States Embassy at Jidda that Your Majesty’s health has considerably improved. I sincerely hope that this improvement will in no way be interrupted and that God may continue to spare Your Majesty for the welfare of your people and in the interest of the Free World.

Your Majesty will recall that my Government has for over a year been greatly concerned and preoccupied with all phases of the Buraimi problem. Our efforts on behalf of facilitating settlement of this matter were redoubled after receipt of Your Majesty’s message of July sixth.2 During discussions between Mr. Dulles and Lord Salisbury in Washington in July, the Buraimi problem occupied an important position on the agenda of the meetings. I am confident you will believe me when I say that Mr. Dulles and his colleagues had Saudi interests in this matter very much at heart and were motivated by a desire to assist in resolving the differences between the British and Your Majesty’s Governments in order to eliminate causes for disturbances and pave the way for a just and equitable settlement. We have been very perturbed over reports of disturbances involving violent action in the Buraimi area, and we have urged all possible restraint and moderation.

Following the July discussions with the British on Buraimi, Mr. Dulles has several times been in direct communication with both Lord Salisbury and Mr. Eden, and the Secretary of State has vigorously represented our views concerning means whereby agreement upon outstanding issues might be hastened.

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I have heard that substantial progress toward elimination of points of disagreement has been made in recent weeks between representatives of Your Majesty and of the British Government. It gives me great pleasure to observe this development, and it is my fervent hope that Your Majesty’s wise statesmanship will continue to influence and guide these discussions to a successful conclusion.

It has been my intention since assuming office to strengthen still further the friendly ties between Your Majesty and the Saudi people and the Government and the people of the United States. These sentiments were expressed by me to His Royal Highness Prince Faisal last March and in subsequent communications to Your Majesty. In order to help achieve my objective, I am sending the Honorable George Wadsworth to be Ambassador at Your Majesty’s Court. Mr. Wadsworth has been American Minister to Syria and Lebanon, and has served as Ambassador to Iraq, Turkey, and Czechoslovakia. I consider him to be one of our most eminent and distinguished Ambassadors, and I am confident that Your Majesty will render him every facility for the accomplishment of the important mission entrusted to him.

May God have Your Majesty in His safekeeping.

Sincerely,

Dwight D. Eisenhower
  1. This letter was drafted by Fritzlan on Oct. 22. The original was transmitted to Jidda by pouch for delivery to the King. A copy was transmitted in telegram 129 to Jidda, Oct. 29, with a request that the Embassy deliver the message as an advance copy and explain that the signed original was en route. (Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “King Saud/Eisenhower”)

    Attached to a draft copy of the letter in Department of State files was a memorandum by Byroade to the Secretary of State, dated Oct. 22, recommending that the Secretary send the letter to the President for his signature. The memorandum stated that, since the Saudis and the British seemed close to agreement on several issues, it would be appropriate for the President to answer the King’s message of July 6 requesting U.S. mediation. Also attached to the letter was a memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President, dated Oct. 26, recommending that the President sign the letter. (780.022/10–2253)

  2. A summary of the message under reference here was transmitted in telegram 6 from Jidda, Document 1527.