Umm al‑Qura, 24 September 1954:
The impact of King Saud’s conversation with the American writer Alfred Lilienthal regarding the Palestinian cause resonated strongly within senior circles and across official and public forums in the United States.
During the visit of U.S. Ambassador George Wadsworth and an American senator to King Saud on 19 September 1954, they commented on His Majesty’s statement to Lilienthal about the Palestinian issue, as well as on the address King Saud had delivered to the American people at the request of the Ford Foundation. They expressed admiration for the King’s candor and for his clear articulation of a just solution to this complex matter—an articulation that helped illuminate American public opinion regarding the fairness of the Palestinian cause.
King Saud stated: ‘If the American people come to understand the justice of this cause, they will support it and defend it.’
The senator informed King Saud that during his upcoming tour of Arab countries he intended to visit refugee camps, and he asked His Majesty for guidance on what actions he should take to help address the refugee crisis. King Saud replied: ‘The only solution is the return of the refugees to their homeland. Any alternative attempt will end in failure. They must also be provided with urgent financial assistance to relieve their suffering before the winter and its hardships.’
The American senator agreed with King Saud’s view and added that upon his return to the United States, he would do everything in his power to enlighten American public opinion regarding the Palestinian cause.
