Ibn Saud on the World Stage, 1945–51

Abstract

When the year 1945 began, Ibn Saud was almost 70 years of age and throughout the period to 1951 he showed signs of rapid physical deterioration. It is sad that it was in just this period that there occurred a climax in the problems facing a ruler of a vast country occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula, problems of the vulnerability of the country to external forces, problems of the adaptation to the enormous wealth which was becoming available to the monarch, problems of the creation of a system of management to confront these unprecedented situations. Externally there were violent upheavals in neighbouring countries: Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq while Egypt became engaged in the armed resistance to British presence which would lead to the evacuation agreement of 1954; in the Gulf region Saudi Arabia embarked on a collision course with the British because of its border claims in the eastern regions of the country, while Iran was approaching the crisis of the attempt to nationalise the oil industry. Domestically the King was not able to create the systems needed to handle the social, economic and financial problems created by oil-income, which by 1950 would exceed $50 million in one year. His lament to Philby in 1948 about the situation in Riyadh has often been quoted in illustration of the helplessness of Ibn Saud at this time.

I am happy to say that most of my men are from Syria.

Ibn Saud, 1946, to Syrian delegation quoted in Zirikli, p. 1237

The fault lies not with others but in myself! If it were in my power to choose I’d have Doomsday now.

Ibn Saud on morality in Riyadh 1948 to Philby, quoted in Philby, Saudi Arabia, p. 351

King … now considers USA only world power on whom he can rely. … He does not feel he can count … as he once did on Britain’s ability to keep Hashimites in line.

Cable from Ambassador Childs to State Department 3 January 1950 in Ibn Al-Rashid The Struggle between the Two Princes