Office of the Historian

198. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia1

Washington, December 13, 1955—6:57 p.m.

279. From Secretary. Please convey on my behalf in appropriate oral form following message to King: [Page 303]

“I have followed with concern problem of Buraimi oasis. As Under Secretary informed Azzam Pasha and Ambassador Khayyal,2 we have agreed to assist informally as friends of both parties in effort find acceptable solution. With this in view, I have sent personal message to Mr. Macmillan. I have stressed to him moderate attitude which Your Majesty has pursued on matter. I hope it may be possible for me to discuss matter with him at early date.

“I am also instructing Ambassador Wadsworth to keep in close touch with you on this issue and on other matters of common interest between us.”

This and following telegram constitute message referred to in last sentence Deptel 268.3

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.022/12–1355. Confidential. Drafted by Newsom and approved and signed by Dulles. Repeated to London. According to Wadsworth, in an audience with Faisal on December 24, the Prince asked the Ambassador about new developments in the Buraimi matter. Wadsworth replied by reading the Secretary’s message to the King. (Telegram 280, December 24; ibid., 786A.11/12–2455)↩
  2. See footnote 4, Document 194.↩
  3. Document 195. “Following telegram” presumably refers to telegram 281 to Jidda, December 13. (Department of State, Central Files, 780.022/12–1355) This telegram transmitted to the Embassy additional points which it might wish to convey to the King. The Department, inter alia, suggested that the Embassy repeat to Faisal the U.S. desire to discuss the Dhahran Airfield and to assist Saudi Arabia in strengthening its defenses. The Department also instructed the Embassy to express the hope that the King would not use his resources to support opponents of the Baghdad Pact. On December 29 Wadsworth transmitted the King’s written reply to the Secretary’s message. In his message, Saud thanked the United States for its efforts to help solve the Buraimi problem. According to Saud, the “soundest means” to resolve the problem was a return to arbitration, based on restoration of the status quo ante and the establishment of a neutral international commission in the disputed areas. According to Wadsworth, Faisal, who had transmitted the King’s message, added that the King, in view of domestic pressures, could not wait forever. (Telegram 282 from Jidda, December 28; ibid., 780.022/12–2855)↩