Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-12-16
Royce Military Group
Completes Talks With
Saudi Arabian Kinq
By. the Associated Press.

by the ASSOCIATED freSS.
CAIRO, Dec. 16.-An American
military mission has completed
successful Introductory talks with
one of the Arab worlds most re-
nowned warriors, King Thu Saud OF
Saudi Arabia. it was announced
yesterday, raising speculation of E
possible expansion Of military and
supply transportation activities in
the Middle East.
The mission, which was the first
from the United States ever to visit
the fabulous Arabian kingdom,
which can be entered only by invi-
tation, talked for three days with
the tall, powerfully built King on
economic and military matters.
Saudi Arabia, comprising the
greater part of the Arabian penin-
sula, is rich in oil Royalties from
concessions have fattened King Ibn
Saud S treasury
Mai. Gen Ralph Royce. American
Middle East commander. headed
the mission, which left behind four
military experts on economics, pub
lie health. radio transmission and
military affairs.
Unusual Honors Paid to Royce.
Ibn Saud singled out Gen. Royce
for unusual honors at All Arabian
Nights banquet last Sunday. The
King took Gen Royce up a. ramp
~ ho
room flooded by full moon. Before,
only the King had been allowed to
use the ramp which was built be-
cause of the Kings battle-shattered
knee.
At a table set for so guests, the
Arabian King offered the Americans
a feast of 10 whole sheep, huge
plates of vegetables and other meats.
He did not insist that they eat what
he considered the greatest delicacy
Sleeps eyes.
The King presented to Gen Royce
Arabian costumes, a gold and silver
sword and a wrist watch. Gen.
Royce's gift to the King was valu-
able radio equipment.
Gen. Royce's visit UNDERSIGNED the
little emphasized Arabic political
conferences in Cairo and Teheran.
1bn Saud notably took occasion dur
ing the Mecca pilgrimage to salute
for the first time the growing idea Of
a pan-Arabic federation.
Pan-Arabic Commitment.
In pronouncement before going
to Mecca, Egyptian, Iraqi, Syrian and
other Arabian dignitaries made the
first public pan-Arabic commitment.
They declared an identity of views
had been reached and pointed out
that a solution Of the Lebanese
problem had brought a testing
time" for Arab unity and touched
on independence for "our Syrian
brothers,
It was disclosed that one sugges-
ton made by Gen. Royce to Ibn
Saud during an informal converse
ton was that Saudi Arabia send stu
dents to the United States to study
engineering and medicine.
Saudi Arabian ministers and chiefs
listen intently to American radio
broadcaStS. member of Gen.
Royce's staff discovered.
They are keenly interested in our
planes he added They had heard
about the BIO new American
superbomber and wanted to know
if it was true that it was so big. how
many people it would carry and how
fast itswould GO
Ibn Saud declined Gen. Royce's
Invitation that he, go on his first
plane ride. but said his brother
would be glad to go. Gen Royce
took four Arabians on flight be-
fore leaving.
The mission left behind in Jidda
to continue consultations is in
charge of Col Alton w. Howard 1t
includes Maj. Joseph Waldman,
Medical Corps specialist, who treat
ed the Kings eyes.