364. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia1
289. Please transmit following message from President to King Saud:
“Your Majesty:
I wish to share with you the concern which I feel regarding recent developments in Syria. It seems that by a series of steps, first seemingly innocent and now reaching a rapid pace, the Communists are taking over and effectively driving out the duly constituted authorities. There seems to be serious danger that Syria will become a Soviet Communist satellite.
[Page 646]We are in receipt of messages of concern from the neighboring Arab countries—Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. Turkey, too, feels that it is in danger of being caught within a Soviet vice.
No doubt Your Majesty has also heard similar voices of fear and concern.
The United States has no purpose or desire to intervene. The recent extravagant stories put out from Damascus alleging United States plots and intervention are part of a slanderous campaign to distract attention from the actual Communist intervention that was going on. Of course, under the doctrine which Ambassador Richards explained to you, we would sympathetically consider a request to assist any country that was attacked by a Syria which itself was dominated by International Communism. We believe, however, that it is highly preferable that Syria’s neighbors should be able to deal with this problem without the necessity for any outside intervention.
In view of the special position of Your Majesty as Keeper of the Holy Places of Islam, I trust that you will exert your great influence to the end that the atheistic creed of Communism will not become entrenched at a key position in the Moslem world.
May God have you in His safekeeping.
Your sincere friend, DDE”
Observe Presidential Handling.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 683.00/8–2157. Top Secret; Niact; Presidential Handling. Drafted and approved by Dulles and cleared by Rountree.↩