Office of the Historian

368. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1

Washington, April 30, 1965, 6:17 p.m.

6955. YARG Charge Jaghman, acting on instructions from FonMinAl-Aini, approached Dept April 30 with reference recent HMG note protesting overflights Harib area and giving notice possible turn to UN Security Council and armed action against interlopers (Deptels 6741 to London, 238 to Taiz).2 Requested US try convince British of problems which such notes and possible airing of situation in UN posed for new moderate Nu’man government3 during this critical time when it trying get feet on ground. Said Govt obviously needed respite in order get established before it would be able try get UAR stop such activity. Strongly hoped British could hold off “for at least two or three weeks” on any further actions or protests they might have. He referred to alleged sharp criticism YARG by British spokesman during UN Committee Twenty-Four discussion Aden earlier this week as further [Page 695] example type of thing which he hoped could be held in abeyance for time being to give moderate YARG breathing space.

Tone of approach was exceptionally rational, restrained and even pleading.

Dept discussing with British Embassy Washington, giving strong endorsement this request from new FonMinAl-Aini who has made clear in number conversations with Dept over past months his firm desire end Egyptian interference his country, goal shared by USG and HMG. Request London make similar approach FonOff.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964-66, POL 31-1 ADEN-YEMEN. Secret. Drafted by Moore, cleared by Judd and Campbell, and approved by Davies. Repeated to Taiz, USUN, and Aden.↩
  2. Telegram 238 to Taiz (6741 to London), April 23, transmitted the text of a British note protesting overflights of South Arabian Federation territory by MIG fighters from Yemen that the United Kingdom had asked the United States to deliver to the Yemen Arab Republic Government. (Ibid.)↩
  3. On April 20 Ahmad Numan, a pro-Western Yemeni moderate who advocated a program of internal reconciliation and eventual UAR withdrawal, formed a new Yemeni Government.↩