Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXI, Near East Region; Arabian Peninsula

372. Information Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Handley) to Secretary of State Rusk¹

Washington, August 6, 1965.

SUBJECT

• Rising Tensions Between U.A.R. and Saudi Arabia over Yemen

Since Nasser’s July 22 public offer of peace and threat of war with Saudi Arabia over Yemen,² there have been a series of U.A.R. overflights of Saudi territory in the Yemen border region, including bombing of a Saudi tent encampment near the latter town. The Saudis have played down these occurrences both publicly and privately. Faisal has given a temporizing response to Nasser’s request for any early meeting but is expected momentarily to reply definitively.

We have informed both the U.A.R. and the Saudis of our hopes for an early solution to the problem and at the same time reiterated our continuing commitment to Saudi integrity. The Department’s press spokesman, on August 4, gave a statement in similar vein in response to a question about the imminence of hostilities.³ We have counseled the Saudis to cease their aid to the royalists in order to unencumber our commitment and have advised them to take the matter to the United Nations. We have kept the U.N. Secretary General informed of the rising tensions. We doubt that he will make any statement or otherwise take action, at least until he receives some word directly from the Saudis about the problem.

We judge Nasser does not want a confrontation with the Saudis but is seeking desperately for a way out of the Yemen impasse. A major problem is Faisal’s conviction Nasser is bogged down to the extent he cannot do much against Saudi Arabia and his refusal to consider halting aid to the royalists. Our efforts are concentrated on furthering a Nasser-Faisal rapprochement and avoiding a confrontation. We have done some contingency planning, emphasizing diplomatic activities but also including the possibility of deployment of limited United States military forces if necessary. If such deployment is required, it should be carefully considered to avoid the appearance of any provocation on our part.

1. Source: Department of State, NEA/ARP Files: Lot 69 D 547, Political Affairs & Rel., 1965, Saudi Arabia-UAR. Secret. Drafted by Moore and cleared by Davies, Russell, and Sisco.
2. On July 22 Nasser made a bitterly anti-American speech that also offered renewed negotiations with Saudi Arabia over Yemen but warned of the danger of war if the negotiations failed. Extracts from Nasser’s speech are printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1965, pp. 619-620.
3. On August 4 the Department of State spokesman reiterated U.S. support for the maintenance of Saudi Arabia’s integrity. (Telegram 22 to Taiz, August 4; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964-66, POL 27 YEMEN)