711.90F27/12–2745: Telegram
The Minister in Saudi Arabia (Eddy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:34 p.m.]
439. Legtel 434, December 24. Both British Minister and FoMin have stated to me separately that speaking personally and not officially they consider bilateral air agreement a subject independent of Dhahran airbase with which it was never tied up until now. To require SAG to act immediately and without area study on effect of Fifth Freedom rights on future development of native aviation in Arab countries they consider unreasonable. British have withdrawn formal objection to SAG signing of bilateral agreement with US but have been diligent for months in preaching that this is not in best interests of any Arab State which should look forward to operating and owning air traffic and airways just as it owns its national highways.