Desert Sun, Volume XXIX, Number 49, 29 November 1955 — KING SAUD'S VISIT TO INDIA KEY TO OIL FIELD
By CHARLES M. McCANN United Press Staff Correspondent.
The visit of King Saud of Saudi Arabia to India may prove to be an important development in the Middle Eastern situation. Soviet Russia thrust itself into the picture when it arranged for its satellite Szechoslovakia to send arms to Egypt. Russia, of course, took advantage of the tension between the Arab countries and Israel. "Neutralise’ Prime Minister Jawaharha) Nehru of India seems to have that situation in mind in asking King Saud to visit him. Involved also is Nehru's aim to form a solid bloc of African and Asian countries which will detach themselves from the Western sphere of influence. NEHRU’S INVITATION to King Saud to visit India seems to be a new move in his campaign. It is a move which comes at a time when the United States and its allies are trying to strengthen their position in the Middle East. The Western Allies are somewhat embarrassed because of the dangerous Palestine situation. Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia are importont to them and the activity of Russia and India can only add to their difficulties. It is no secret that Russia has
offered arms to Saudi Arabia, as well as Egypt, and that Saudi Arabia is considering the offer. King Saud's kingdom, a vast stretch of desert sand, practically floats on a sea of oil. That oil, one of the most important sources of fuel in the world, is exploited by the American owned Arabian American Oil Company. UNTIL THE FIELD was opened, Saudi Arabia’s revenues were derived almost entirely from a head tax imposed on pilgrims to Mecca, shrine of the Moslem world. Now, Saudi Arabia, which means King Saud, gets something like too million dollars a year in oil royalties from‘“Aramco.” f There is also the little-mentioned fact that the United States has one of its greatest air bases at Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. The base can command the entire Middle East. From it, giant bombers are well within range of the Soviet Union. The agreement under which the United States holds the Dhahran base comes up for renewal next June. With Russia tugging at Saudi Arabia from one side, and India from another, the United States may find it difficult to maintain its position.