890F.24/7–3045
The Minister in Saudi Arabia (Eddy) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 10.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that on July 29, at 5:00 P.M., my British colleague and I called upon the Acting Foreign Minister, Shaikh Abdullah Sulaiman, who is also the Minister of Finance, and delivered to him a joint note73 regarding the United States-British subsidized supply progam for 1945, as instructed in the Department’s telegrams No. 204, of July 16, 7:00 PM, and No. 218, of July 26, 5:00 PM.
I had suggested to my British colleague that the note be addressed to the King, as was done in 1944, but he pointed out that he was instructed to accompany the delivery of the note with some oral explanations, and that he preferred, therefore, to address the note to the Acting Foreign Minister so that he would be free to comment on its contents. I agreed readily, and we further agreed to remain together throughout the interview rather than to take turns ostentatiously leaving the room.
After the Acting Foreign Minister had read the joint note, Mr. Grafftey-Smith then (1) expressed the regret of his government that [Page 936] the burden of domestic reconstruction in Britain, and their staggering obligations, made it impossible for them to give more assistance than was stated in the joint note; (2) stated that it would be necessary for the Saudi Government to acquire automotive replacement parts of British and Canadian manufacture by purchase, before they could be delivered by United Kingdom Commercial Corporation, which should be without delay to be ready for the Pilgrimage.
Thereupon I delivered the note addressed to the King regarding the supplementary United States assistance program which I stated I had held until the joint note should have been delivered first. The note had been prepared for my signature July 20, 1945 and I preferred not to rewrite it nor to post-date it, preferring rather to have it known that we were ready to announce our assistance some days earlier. Since this note was addressed to the King,74 it was necessary for me to repeat its contents in detail for the information of the Acting Minister, which I did in the presence of my British colleague, to whom I also furnished a copy.
The Acting Foreign Minister thanked us both for the communications and we shortly took our leave. The following day, the Acting Foreign Minister inquired from me privately at some length regarding the commodities which might be obtainable with the million-odd dollars not yet obligated in the United States supplementary program, and indicated that he would shortly send me a request for certain quantities of United States wheat, rice, and sugar, which I shall forward by telegraph when received.
I wish to record the very cooperative attitude of my British colleague throughout the preparation of the joint note and its delivery … Mr. Grafftey-Smith had argued strongly with his government against their penny-pinching tactics, especially with regard to the British and Canadian spare parts so badly needed to recondition motor transport now rusting in disuse.
[Here follows expression of personal views of the British Minister in Saudi Arabia on British policy regarding the 1945 subsidy.]
Respectfully yours,