FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1955–1957
VOLUME XVI
SUEZ CRISIS
JULY 26–DECEMBER 31, 1956
DOCUMENT 131
131. Message From King Saud to President Eisenhower1
Riyadh, August 24, 1956.
YOUR EXCELLENCY: When I contemplated sending a delegation to Your Excellency to review certain aspects of the present situation in this part of the world, I was motivated by the traditional policy which has characterised, for a long time, the relations between our two countries.
It is natural for friends to consult each other on certain questions which are of mutual interest to them, seeking an adequate solution which would realize security, tranquility, and welfare.
It is primarily of Your Excellency’s concern, as well as of ours, to endeavor to remove the causes of tension which stand in the way of promoting international relations and to solve disputes through pacific means.
Your Excellency has taken the initiative in preceding us by sending to us your personal emissary, the Honorable Robert Anderson, whom we were pleased to receive, and whom we found possesses high merits and extensive knowledge of the problems of this area.
We have received from him, with great appreciation and consideration, your message dated August 20, 1956, which included expressions of friendship and cordiality, happily existing between us and tying our two countries and nations.
We, and members of our government, have talked and exchanged views with His Excellency, your personal Envoy concerning matters which absorb, in the present circumstances, our great concern, and explained to him our viewpoint with respect thereto. He, as well, explained, on his side, the sincere efforts which Your Excellency and members of your government are exerting in order to reduce the gravity of tension and restore the situation to normal after removing the causes of disturbance which is troubling to all.
We are confident that Your Excellency, being greatly interested in removing the causes of tension, is exerting your faithful efforts to stop the economic and military measures. I, for my part, am working with Egypt to negotiate; thus we are seeking solutions which would realize, for all states, the actual and legitimate interest of guaranteeing the free navigation in the Suez Canal, and would maintain, for Egypt, the rights of its full sovereignty. Through this means, it can be possible to avoid this crisis which, if left to itself, would have developed to unforseen results.
In praying God to help in the success of your and our efforts, I avail myself of this opportunity to renew, to Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest cordiality.2
1 Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. During the farewell visit between King Saud and Robert Anderson on August 24, with other members of the U.S. official party present, Saud gave Anderson this message written in reply to Eisenhower’s letter of August 20; see Document 122. A memorandum of the farewell conversation, by Newsom, and a copy of Saud’s message are in Department of State, NEA Files: Lot 59 D 518, Report of Special Mission to Saudi Arabia August 20–27, 1956.