346B.115 Standard Oil Co./38

The Minister in Egypt (Fish) to the Secretary of State

Saudi Arabian Series No. 8

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s telegram No. 127 of October 24, 7 p.m., 1940, and subsequent correspondence regarding an attack by Italian aircraft on American oil installations in Saudi Arabia and Bahrein and to enclose a copy of the English translation [Page 727] of a note dated January 13, 1941, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in reply to the Legation’s note no. 15 of November 30, 1940,52 in which the Legation renewed its request to be advised of the attitude of the Government of Saudi Arabia in respect of the violation of its neutral rights as a result of the bombing of the property of the California Arabian Standard Oil Company at Al Khobar.

It will be noted that the Saudi Arabian Government expresses its appreciation of the interest shown by the United States Government in this matter and the steps taken by it in that regard. The note adds that the Saudi Arabian Government presented an official protest to the Italian Government regarding the attack and that the latter expressed its regret for the incident giving as an explanation that the bombing was the result of an error by an Italian pilot.

Respectfully yours,

Bert Fish
  1. Legation’s note of November 30, 1940, and Saudi Arabian note of January 13, 1941, not printed.