Saudi Arabia: The Silent Monarch

One of earth's few remaining absolute monarchs last week tried to give an order and failed. This distressing occurrence befell aging, ailing King Saud of oil-rich Saudi Arabia, who, 14 months ago, let his able half brother, Prince Feisal, take over the job of running the country as Prime Minister.

The country has benefited from Feisal's mild reforms, but not the royal family. Feisal fired King Saud's sons from Cabinet posts and governorships; worse, Feisal slashed the royal privy purse to a paltry $40 million annually.

Last month Saud's jobless sons convinced their father that he would lose his throne unless he acted. In keeping with their talents, the princes' plot was simple. A tour of western Saudi Arabia was scheduled for the King, including the key cities of Taif, Mecca and Jidda. When Saud reached Jidda, he was to issue a royal decree dismissing Prince Feisal and his reformist Cabinet. Then the royal family would once more be in charge.

Unfortunately, the chief conspirator sounded out top officers of the Royal Guard and the National Guard. Since most of them are pro-Feisal, they reported the plot to the Prime Minister, who promptly ordered the royal tour halted at Taif.

Furious and frightened, King Saud hurried back to his capital city of Riyadh, took refuge inside the seven-mile circumference of Naziriyah Palace compound and ordered his Royal Guard to cover all approaches. At night the 6,000 wall lights on the palace glared brightly to avoid a sneak attack, as the King fired off a nervous demand for assurances that Feisal would not depose him.

Feisal replied with scorn. During the four days of Saud's self-imposed state of siege, Prince Feisal repeatedly drove to and from his office past Naziriyah Palace. The Royal Guard, deployed at Saud's orders to fight off Feisal, invariably stood at attention and gave him the royal salute. Finally Feisal sent word that unless Saud dismissed the Royal Guard and ceased all provocative behavior within six hours, he would consider himself freed of any further obligation under his oath to respect Saud's kingship. The King promptly caved in. The Royal Guard, irritated and rebellious, was ordered back to barracks, and the royal decree dismissing Feisal from office was never uttered—for the obvious reason that no one would have paid any attention to it.