867N.01/10–645: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Saudi Arabia (Eddy)
306. Your 372, October 2,66 375, October 6 and previous telegrams on the subject. Please deliver the following message from President Truman to King Ibn Saud:
“I am inclined to believe from your message to me of October 2 that certain remarks on Palestine which I made informally on September 26 may have been inaccurately reported to you.
During the course of a press conference on that date I was asked whether President Roosevelt had made a commitment to you that the United States would not make an issue of the Palestine question. I replied that there was no record of any such commitment.
In order that there should be no misunderstanding with regard to the assurances which President Roosevelt has given to you I am contemplating stating publicly on October 18 that he has given certain assurances to you, as well as to other Arab Leaders. It is my intention at that time to make available to the American press a copy of the President’s letter of April 5, 1945 to you and to point out that the policy of the Govt of the US in this respect is unchanged.
I would have no objection to your making President Roosevelt’s letter public on the same day. I do not believe that it would be wise for me to make public your letter to President Roosevelt, but its release by you is entirely a matter for your decision.
[Page 770]In my opinion the publication just now of the memorandum of the conversation which took place between you and the President on February 1467 would not be in the common interest of our two Countries[”].