890F.515/69: Telegram
The Minister Resident in Saudi Arabia (Moose) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:48 p.m.]
195. The pilgrimage will take place in about 10 days. Although pilgrims swarming into Jidda buy rials from money changers at about 40 to the sovereign, the Government has received no part of “tariff items” collected abroad (see paragraph 4, Cairo’s 1474, August 17, 4 p.m.) and is without funds to pay for services in connection with pilgrimage.
British sources first advised that 4 million rials from lend lease silver would reach here from India by end of October while 2 million from London were expected about November 20. None have arrived yet. Delay and embarrassment resulting from late delivery has done standing of US no good either in popular or official estimation and to some extent offsets the benefit derived from loan of silver.
To retrieve the situation I urge that the 7 million rials being minted in US be delivered in Jidda before December 31. If they could be landed from an American ship the benefit would amply justify the additional effort. Arrival on a warship would be best.