Office of the Historian

449. Telegram From the Mission at the European Office of the United Nations to the Department of State1

Geneva, June 6, 1967, 0004Z.

4091. Ref: Geneva 4069,2 State 206905.3 From Sieverts. Subject: Poison Gas in Yemen.

1)
Following is rough summary based on rapid oral description of ICRC delegates reports on use of toxic gas in Yemen, sent June 1 to four parties, obtained from ICRC in strictest confidence. Should be closely held and treated as Noforn. Summary repeated as provided, with no effort to smooth transitions or logic. Spelling in part phonetic and approximate. Begin summary:
2)
Incident took place at Gahr in the Yemen, on May 10 or 11. ICRC team arrived four days later, having been delayed by the bombing [Page 837] attack on their convey. They interviewed four surviving victims and noted there were 75 dead. They examined the survivors and found objective symptoms of bronchitis, conjunctivitis, and facial edema. Their tympanum was intact, and there were no traumatic lesions. They exhumed one corpse from the common grave. The victim had died four days previously, and had been buried 12 hours. They noted a smell of garlic in the grave. There was edema all over the body. The lungs were soft and enlarged. There were no signs of traumatic lesions on this body or any other bodies, of a type which would have been caused by high explosive or pressure. Statements of the surviving victims are consistent with the objective finding that cause of death was pulmonary edema caused by inhalation of toxic gas.
3)
This report of the delegates was brought to the attention of Dr. Lauppi in Bern, whose supplementary report was annexed to the report sent to the four parties. Report notes the finding of mucous in respiratory tract and lungs, indicating pulmonary and hemocoelic edema, and concludes there is no epidemic disease with these symptoms. Also notes absence of traumatic lesions and states that conclusion that toxic gas used is perfectly justified. Reviews types of gas that could have been employed: phosphoric esters (nervene gas), phosgene, mustard, chlorine, bromide, and a type of chloride. Considers mustard and lewisite most likely. Mustard consistent with garlic odor. Report concludes that evidence hard to evaluate since toxic material fades away quickly after bomb explodes. End summary.
4)
Report does not point to guilty party, since ICRC unable acquire conclusive evidence. Statement and protest sent to UAR on bombing of ICRC convey does specifically identify UAR marked planes as source of attack.
5)
Hamilton of NY Times attempting to piece gas report together on basis interview with Jamil Baroody, Saudi Ambassador to UN, who here past few days with Saudi King. Baroody advised Hamilton to get text from royalist Yemeni, suggesting he contact Abdul Raxman and Mr. Yassine at the Rome Hilton. Hamilton attempting to do this through NY Times man in Rome. I told him I unable assist him to obtain text. He reports Baroody plainly reluctant to be agent of delivering text to Times, since this would violate present spirit of Arab unity against Israel. When Hamilton noted Baroody’s detailed comments this subject eight weeks ago in UN, Baroody quoted Arab proverb: “You join with your brother to fight your cousin. But you join with your cousin to fight your enemy.”
Tubby
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 27-10 YEMEN. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to London and USUN.↩
  2. Telegram 4069 from the U.S. Mission in Geneva, June 2, reported that an ICRC press release on the use of poison gas in Yemen, which, as expected, was a “bland statement,” had been issued at noon that day. Reports, which were factual accounts of the ICRC findings but did not point to the guilty party, had been given to the UAR, Saudi, and Yemeni missions in Geneva and a copy sent to Jidda for transmittal to the Yemeni royalist authorities. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Dated June 2. (Ibid.)↩