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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
си
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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
R
This document was considered at c.o.s(4) 419 Meeting.
SECRET.
a
C.0.S. (41) 738.
11TH DECEMBER, 1941.
TOPY NO.
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WAR CAPINGI.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COCOTTEE.
NEUTRALITY OF GAUDI-ARABIA,
Copy of a letter from the Foreign Office
cated 6th December, 1.
X
X
X
After the entry of Italy into the war, the question of the neutrality of Saudi Arabia was considered by the Middle East (Official) Sub-Committee at their Seventh Meeting on the 10th July, 1940. The conclusion then reached was that no attempt should be made at that time to induce Ibn Saud to enter the war as an ally.
20 Colonel de Gaury has just been on an unofficial visit to Riyadh,. and I enclose copies of two telegrams: from Jedda about his conversations with Ibn Saud. As you will see, he formed the opinion that Ibn Saud would now be prepared to join the Allies openly, and, in view of this, the occasion should, we think, be taken to re-consider the conclusion reached by the Sub-Committee eighteen months ago, Apart from anything else, conditions have radically changed since July, 1940, and many of the disadvantages of a Saudi Arabian alliance recorded at the meeting have now lapsed.
To take them in turn:
(a) Italy has been eliminated from East Africa and is no longer in a position to attack Ibn Saud by sea and air;
(b) We already know what are Ibn Saud's financial requirements for 1942 and, whether or not he changes his position from that of a benevolent neutral to that of an open ally, His Majesty's Government will almost certainly have to subsidise him on a very large scale. We do not, however, know how far it might be possible now to meet any requirements he might put forward for munitions and equipment.
(c) From recent indications, it is unlikely that Ibn Saud would use this occasion for pressing for
Annexes I and II,
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