Evening star., 1952-06-23
Saudi Arabia's S Kinq
Seen as Best Ally Of
j. ). in Arab World
By Dorothy Thompson

the United States in the Arab
world. At Dhahran, near the Pers-
ian Gulf. the administrative CEN
ter of the Arabian American Oil
Company (Aramco). the United
States Air Force. through some
thousand officers and men. is
training Saudi ArabianS, and we
thus have de facto an air base
there, the only one East of French
North Africa.
Ibn Saud, though member of
the Arab League. follows in cer-
tain particulars his own policy.
He is vehemently anti-Commu-
mist. believes in collective security,
and that-to quote him directly
"the interests of the Arab world
and the United States should al
ways be maintained in cordiality."
The Kings opinions were not
expressed in the personal inter-
view I had with him, to which
have previously referred. His
acting Foreign Minister in Riyadh
had suggested that frame my
questions for his consideration.
This I did. and when I met him
he said I, would receive the
answers, in writing, and confined
himself to personal questions and
answers, largely in a most courte-
Gus attempt to put at ease a bare
headed, re-armed woman in a
print dress whose appearance in
the palace had sent the small
royal grandchildren running off,
glggling and squealing in all di-
rections.
His written answers were trans
lated for me next day on the type
writer by two translators checking
each other.
Our relations with the United
States are he said,. those of the
greatest friendship. We are work.
ing to strengthen those ties because
our interests and yours both require
it. The interests of the Arab world
and the United States should al
ways be maintained in cordiality.
We Arabs ask of the United States
only that they stand for justice
and fairness" Qn this statement,
according to the Deputy Foreign
Minister, the King was making a
veiled reference to the American
favoritism shown to Israeli.
THE Arabs will not commit an
aggression. They want peace and
security. They will permit no en-
croachmentS on themselves nor
suffer to lose any part of their
freedom. They expect the United
States to aid them in repelling
aggression from any quarter and
not to assist their enemies.
Arabs understand the mean
ing of gratitude and do not for
get good deed. AS you know,
the Arabs have conflicts with cer-
tain parties in this area. in which
the Arabs are only defending
themselves.
THE American nation is free
and appreciates the meaning of
freedom. We believe the United
States appreciates that it has a
responsibility toward all free ma
tionS who wish to be active par
Elephants in defending peace with
freedom"
Regarding the internal affairs
of the Arab peninsula, the King
reverted to his primary convic-
tions, which are religious.
THE aim for which I have
worked since I reached years of
discretion and established this
kingdom has been to unity my
country and my people in the
faithful worship of one God
alone. and to lead them in ac-
Cordance with the teachings of
the Holy Koran which has come
down to us from God. That alone
is the means to their prosperity
in this world and the next.
THE Moslem religion calls for
an excellent character and the
highest principles. And if We
could fulfill the teachings of the
Koran we should be the happiest
people on earth. From the Koran
We draw our principles of reli-
gion, economics. politics, and So
GEOLOGY. That is why I am doing
my very best to teach my people
and help them with all my
strength to promote their mate
rial and spiritual welfare.
Those who have studied the
past conditions of my country
and have seen the progress it has
made up to date will appreciate
the efforts which God has helped
me to make in the way of unifying
this people who were divided
amongst and against each other
and guiding it towards one COM
mon aim with a unified spirit,
and towards all that will bene-
fit them in this world and the
next"
X Il y
The third question I asked
concerned the Kings attitude to-
ward the Arab League and it's
future. I had hoped to ascertain
how far he would go toward
for instance-all-Arab federation,
or even closer unification, as is
dreamed of by certain Arab lead
ers, especially in Egypt. Here
his reply was, I thought, rather
noncommittal.
"The Arab League" he said.
ais the only means at the pres
ent time through which the Arab