Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Near East Region; Iraq; Iran; Arabian Peninsula, Volume XII

317. White House Staff Notes Prepared for President Eisenhower⁰

No. 375

Washington, May 28, 1958.

1. Saudi Arabia.—State sees recent developments in Saudi Arabia as important changes in the direction of a cabinet system,¹ modernization and reform. Faisal, who seems to have full authority, will probably continue the traditional Saudi neutrality toward competing Arab groupings, and so far no pronounced drift toward the UAR is evident. The Saudis will probably continue to press Aramco for an increased share in oil revenues.

[Here follow items 2–4.]

0. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Secret.
1. An assessment of the introduction of a cabinet system is in a memorandum from Rockwell to Rountree, May 16. (Department of State, Central Files, 786A.13/5–1358)