'620


FOREIGN RELATIONS, - 19 4 9, VOLUME VI


the. Arab world, pointing out that as a sovereign and statesman he
had exceptional -authority and opportunity to bring-peace to Middle
East.
  To this King replied that while indeed he exercised authority his
  powers were not as great as my. government might imagine. He
appeared definitely pleased, however, with this tribute to his position
but did not refrain from iterating the observation made to Ambassa-
dor Griffis on January 2 to effect: that US had brought trouble to
Middle East and should use its best endeavors to solve the problems
it had created. To this I responded by remarking that US: Govern-
ment was basically interested in restoring peace as its efforts near
Israeli authorities and its instruction -to me evidenced.
   On conclusion of audience I handed King memorandum based on
Deptel of which a copy will be forwarded by despatch.6 In so doing
I remarked that while the memorandum which was designed for his
convenience did not contain allusions to his person my government, as
I had already informed him, had in its instruction to me repeatedly
emphasized the vitally important responsibility 'which HM in his
position as sovereign of Egypt and leader in Arab world possessed
to bring about a lasting peace.
                                                        PATTERSON
  "The memorandum was dated January 5; a copy was transmitted to the
Department by Cairo on January 7 in despatch 25 (501.BB Palestine/1-749).

O01.BB Palestine/1-649.
Mfenorandum    by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and
  African Affairs (Satterthwaite) to the Under Secretary of State
  (Lovett)

SECRET                             [WASrNXGTONJ January 6, 1949.
Subject: Developments concerning Palestine
Discussion:
  An officer of the British Embassy informed us this afternoon that
the Embassy had been instructedby Mr. Bevin to tell the State Depart-
ment that on December 30 King Ibn Saud'1 had stated to the British
Minister -n Jidda that 4n view of the General Assembly resolution of
December 11 calling for negotiations between the parties to the Pales-
tine dispute, the time had come for the US and the UK to put pressure
-on both sides to reach a quick final settlement, under the threat of the
most severe economic sanctions. The King asked that no other Arab

  'Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, King of Saudi Arabia.