1940: Arabia

The situation in the Arabian peninsula continued generally unchanged during 1940. Diplomatic relations were opened for the first time between the United States and the most important native state of the Arabian peninsula, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On Feb. 4 the United States Minister to Egypt presented his credentials to King Ibn Saud in Jedda, the port of Mecca. The establishment of diplomatic relations followed the acquisition of important American oil interests in the Arabian peninsula. These interests are located as much in Saudi territory as in the smaller states along the Persian Gulf, especially on the Bahrein Islands. On Oct. 19 the refineries, pipe lines and stores of fuel on the Bahrein Islands were reported struck by Italian bombers. The oil concessions there which are now for the first time in full production are American-owned.

The peace of the Arab peninsula was not disturbed because of world events, but the Arabs followed events with the closest attention. Italian and German propaganda tried to enlist their support, but so far without any visible success. The Arabs hope, in case of a British victory, to retain or to gain their full independence, whereas they are afraid that in case of a fascist victory their lands would be colonized by Italian immigrants, as is the case in Libya, and that they would lose their independence completely, as did the Arabs in Libya. The defection of France from the allied cause made the situation more acute, because the Syrian problem and the future status of Syria became of great concern to the Arabs generally. The idea of a federation of all Arab lands was much in the forefront of Arab political discussions, but the rivalry between the royal house of Ibn Saud and that of the Hashimite family which rules in Iraq and Transjordan made impossible so far any close cooperation of the different Arab lands.

The strong stand which Great Britain was able to keep in the Mediterranean for more than six months after Italy had declared war, the failure so far of the campaign of the Italians in Egypt, and above all the defeats which in the last months of 1940 the Greeks were able to inflict upon the Italian troops, in spite of the numerical and technical superiority of the latter, have gone very far to increase British prestige with the Arabs and to undermine the respect for the fascist arms and fascist efficiency.