Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVIII, Near East, 1962–1963

203. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic⁰

Washington, March 30, 1963, 3:51 p.m.

2191. Following are terms of reference for Ambassador Bunker’s talks in Cairo and Riyadh:¹

A. Cairo—

1. Deliver President’s special message.²

2. Press Nasser to approve nine proposals for disengagement submitted to him by Ambassador Badeau March 23.³

3. If Nasser refuses accept certain of these points, fall back to alternate list of seven proposals (believed to be irreducible minimum) but without requiring deadline for completion of withdrawal of UAR units.

4. Get Nasser’s agreement to desist from further attacks on Saudi Arabia indefinitely, whether or not Faysal agrees to disengagement.

5. Emphasize to Nasser that Bunker mediation effort must be kept on UAR-SAG plane if it is to succeed; therefore, we depend on Nasser to obtain YAR acquiescence to disengagement conditions approved by UAR and SAG and to persuade YAR to drop its separate conditions (i.e., prior recognition of YAR by UK and SAG, and expulsion of Royalists from Saudi Arabia).

6. Express USG hope in abatement UAR-SAG propaganda war and improvement UAR-SAG relations in wake disengagement.

Note: Ambassador Bunker should not inform Nasser that USG intends to despatch an air squadron to Saudi Arabia as “price” for Faysal’s agreement to disengage; this information would be transmitted after Faysal agrees to disengage and before the squadron arrives in Saudi Arabia.

B. Riyadh—

1. Convey President’s greetings and President’s fervent hope agreement on disengagement about to be reached.

2. Report on his meeting with Nasser, without being specific on what Nasser accepted.

3. Assuming Nasser’s agreement to essential proposals for disengagement, present proposals as your estimate of what can be accepted by both parties with honor.

4. Inform Faysal USG prepared send USAF air squadron to Saudi Arabia, if Faysal desires, soon after disengagement process arranged (assuming Nasser has agreed to begin troop withdrawal). However, if Faysal by commencement of second talk has not given in, inform him United States withdraws offer once Bunker leaves Riyadh without Faysal’s acceptance of disengagement.

5. Reiterate USG readiness expedite training of Saudi air force and air defense personnel, and to assist in creating an improved air defense (for use as appropriate even if Faysal refuses disengagement).

6. Seek clear-cut, unconditional invitation to Bunche to visit Saudi Arabia.

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 26 YEMEN. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Seelye, cleared by Davies, and approved by Talbot. Also sent to Jidda.
1. Bunker (accompanied by Seelye) returned to the Near East on April 1, first visiting Cairo and then Riyadh.
2. See Document 195.
3. Badeau reported on his conversation with Nasser in telegram 1562 from Cairo, March 23. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US (BUNKER)) For the nine and seven point proposals, see the Enclosure to Document 202.