US Records on Saudi Affairs 1945–1959 - Cambridge Archive Editions

Near & Middle East Titles:
US Records on Saudi Affairs 1945–1959

ISBN: (13) 978-1-85207-670-2
Extent: 8 volumes, 6,000 pages

Editor: Dr K. Evans
Author:N/A
ISBN: (10) 1-85207-670-4
Published: 1997
Paper: Printed on acid free paper
Binding: Library binding with gilt finish
See sample pages: not available

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Resumé

Archive Editions and University Publications of America in a collaborative venture present a collection of Confidential U.S. Government Records on Saudi Arabia. These documents, primarily researched from State Department Central Files and the Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are essential to the study of the development of the US-Saudi political relationship in the post-war and Cold War period. The documents help illustrate the development of foreign and military policy in Saudi Arabia in the turbulent early days of the Cold War, and the evolution of Saudi military power. In particular this work permits a close "ground-level" assessment of the strategies and philosophies adopted by the American and Saudi alliance.

Historical Overview

Documentary Importance

The source materials include: special reports on high-level political affairs; regular diplomatic reports; studies and statistics; interviews and minutes of meetings with government officials; U.S. court proceedings; full texts of important letters and cables sent to or from U.S. diplomatic personnel; reports from American journals and translations from Saudi newspapers; high-level government documents including speeches, memoranda and reports of political meetings and assemblies.

Arrangement of volumes

Contents Outline

Volume 1: 1945-1949

U.S. and British Military Missions to Saudi Arabia
Lend lease aid to Saudi Arabia; supplies and Middle East Supply Centre
U.S. military assistance to Saudi Arabia; General Harper´s visit
Dhahran Air Base: negotiation of short and long term rights
Aramco: "role in political matters"
Saudi-British-American relations
Surplus property and credit agreements

Volume 2: 1950-1954

Boundary and sovereignty issues: Trucial coast, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, Farsi, Arabi, etc.
Buraimi dispute
Aramco-Saudi difficulties; Tapline progress and political developments in Tapline Governorate
Crown Prince´s reforms of Saudi governmental machinery
Illness and death of King Abdul Aziz; succession of King Saud
King Saud´s travels at home and abroad
Visit of Faisal (Foreign Minister) to U.S., November 1952-March 1953
Establishment of Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
Ambassador Eddy´s account of Roosevelt-Ibn Saud meeting, 14 February 1945 at Great Bitter Lake

Volume 3: 1950-1954

Visit of Misha´al (Minister of Defence) to U.S., 1951
Brigadier General Day´s report: reimbursable aid agreement with Saudi Arabia
Grant military aid to Saudi Arabia: efforts to secure and Saudi refusal
Reorganisation and re-equipment of "Saudi Army in Palestine": pamphlet
Dhahran Air Base: extension of U.S. rights
Black´s Air Force: possible coordination of British and U.S. Military Training Missions

Volume 4: 1955-1959

Fortnightly review of events in Saudi Arabia, February 1956-August 1958
Aramco: labour relations
Dissatisfaction with and criticisms of Saudi regime, internal and external
Saudi reaction to Baghdad Pact
Saudi relations with Egypt: Egypt-Saudi Arabia Defence Agreement, Jeddah Pact
Alleged Saudi intrigues: against Nasser, Sultan of Oman etc.
Suez crisis; mobilisation of Saudi troops, troop movements to Jordan, severance of relations with and prohibition of oil sales to Britain and France

Volume 5: 1955-1959

Fortnightly reviews of events in Saudi Arabia, August 1958-January 1960
Modernisation and reform of Saudi administration
Saud´s visits to U.S., Spain, North Africa, Iraq, Jordan etc., 1957
Saud-Faisal relations
Investment of Faisal with extensive powers, 1958
Saud´s efforts to regain popularity and reassert primary authority
Saudi foreign relations: Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Oman etc.
The Aqaba question

Volume 6: 1955-1959

U.S.-Saudi negotiations, Washington, February 1957: extension of Dhahran Air Base rights and military assistance to Saudi Arabia
Sale of arms to Saudi Arabia: Saudi requests, complaints about availability, deliveries etc.
Russian offer of arms
U.S. Military Training Mission: lack of Saudi direction and support
Economic assistance: negotiations and failure to conclude an agreement

Volume 7: 1945-1959

Papers of State War Navy Coordinating Committee and Joint Chiefs of Staff, including:
Financial assistance and lend lease
Establishment of a U.S. Military Mission
Relations with Britain: British interests in Saudi Arabia, desire for coordination with U.S., withdrawal of British Mission
Joint Chiefs of Staff studies of O´Keefe report and Day´s report
Renegotiation of Dhahran Air Base rights and programmes of military assistance
Proposals for protective military measures at Dhahran during Suez crisis
Report of Naval Survey Mission to Saudi Arabia, 1957

Volume 8

Report by Joint U.S. Survey Group to Saudi Arabia, headed by Brigadier Gen. Richard J. O´ Keefe.
Compiled in latter half of 1949, presented to Joint Chiefs of Staff 3 January 1950, the short main report contains a comprehensive series of appendices, amounting to over 50 pages of detail covering the strategic significance of Saudi Arabia to the U.S., its internal political organisation, its income sources, its defence capabilities and requirements, its ability to utilise military assistance, the implications of such assistance as well as U.S. military and strategic requirements.
Report by Joint U.S. Mutual Defence Assistance Programme Survey Team to Saudi Arabia, headed by Brig-Gen. E. M. Day.
Compiled July/August 1951, the report details the organisation, strengths and characteristics of the Saudi military forces, and through the proposed programme of military assistance, their reorganisation and re-equipment. Contains numerous tables, charts, etc. on every aspect of this programme, eg locations, facilities, training plans, equipment, personnel etc.

Key documents

Maps

Editor's Introduction