Telegram from Grant to Secrertary of State James Byrnes

DIVISION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS COPY TELEGRAPH BRANCH DEPARTMENT OF STATE INCOMING TELEGRAM Action: NEA Info: Jidda S U Dated October 6, , 1946 YALL A-C A-R Rec'd 10:09 a.m., 7th DC/R Control 2137 No paraphrase necessary DECLASSIFIED E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, Aug. 10, 1972 SECSTATE By NLT-WL NARS Date 7-25-75 294, October 6, 9 p.m. FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM KING ABDUL AZIZ Dept's 244, October 3 I have received the kind message of Your Magnificence which he, the Charge d' Affaires of the American Legation Jidda has transmitted to me and in which you addressed your very careful consideration toward the plan for the railroad from the Persian Gulf to Riyadh. At the same time that I transmit to Your Magnificence my thanks and gratefulness for paying this plan your considerable attention, I am glad to seize this pleasant opportunity to give Your Magnificence a short explanation of the real reason which caused us to retain this plan and prefer it to others. The Arabic proverb say "Mecca people know best the byways of their country". As a matter of fact our country is arid and there is no matter of any kind in which it could be compared with other countries in its organizations and establishments. If paved roads for cars are of benefit to other countries, our country on the contrary will not reap any bene- fit except at considerable expense and great loss. The railroad is the only medium by God's willingness whose full advantage will prevail and reduce the expenditures which are made for transportation, aid in the development of the country and serve other various uses. The friendly SECRI RECORDS SERVICE"