Office of the Historian

100. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan0

Washington, November 16, 1962, 10:24 p.m.

213. Deptel to Cairo 524.1 Following message from President to be delivered addressed respectively to Hussein (Your Majesty), Nasser (Mr. President), Faysal (Your Royal Highness) and Sallal (Excellency). Gap in body of message in each case to be filled in with names (and titles) of other three addresses.

“I am grieved at the differences that have arisen among states with which the United States desires to maintain the friendliest of relations and am gravely concerned that the conflict over Yemen will jeopardize the stability of the area. Accordingly, I urge the leaders of the states now involved to reflect on the greater dangers if present developments are permitted to proceed unchecked and propose for your urgent, confidential consideration and for early implementation the following plan of action to normalize the situation. I am addressing identical messages to (hiatus), (hiatus) and (hiatus).

The key elements of the plan are: 1) phased but expeditious withdrawal of external forces from Yemen; 2) termination of external support to the Royalists; and 3) phased but expeditious withdrawal of forces introduced after the revolt in Yemen into the vicinity of the Saudi-Yemeni borders. In effecting withdrawal I would envisage direct contact between the parties concerned, the good offices of a third party, or possibly observation or supervision of the disengagement process by the United Nations. My representatives will be prepared to discuss modalities further.

I propose the following initial steps be taken promptly:

1.
Issuance by the United Arab Republic of a statement signifying its willingness to undertake a reciprocal disengagement and expeditious and phased removal of troops as: a) Saudi and Jordanian forces are removed from the frontier and b) Saudi and Jordanian support of Yemeni Royalists is stopped.
2.
Reaffirmation publicly by the Yemen Arab Republic of its intention to honor international obligations, to seek normal and friendly relations with its neighbors and to concentrate on domestic affairs; and an appeal by the Yemen Arab Republic to Yemenis in neighboring areas to be law-abiding citizens.
3.
Upon issuance of suitable statements as envisioned above and upon establishment of normal operating conditions for the United States AID Mission in Yemen, the United States will immediately extend recognition to the Yemen Arab Republic.

While the disengagement envisaged is being undertaken, we would of course hope that none of the parties would engage in activities contrary to the spirit of this understanding.

I invite your urgent and immediate cooperation in this important task before the conflict over Yemen enters a more dangerous phase.

May God grant us all the strength and wisdom to pursue these important endeavors to their successful conclusion.

Sincerely, John F. Kennedy”

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/11–1662. Secret; Niact; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Seelye and Strong; cleared by Cleveland, Rogers (S/S), and Komer; and approved by Talbot. Also sent to Cairo, Jidda, and Taiz and repeated to London, USUN, and Dhahran.↩
  2. Document 99.↩