Office of the Historian

455. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France1

Washington, July 24, 1967, 2209Z.

12259. Rome 338,2 Paris 1068 (Notal).3

1.
FYI. While Dept has no desire get into numbers game with French or Italians re size UAR forces Yemen, our own best estimate is there still some 25,000 UAR troops there. End FYI.
2.
Far from Egyptian withdrawal being “closer to route” as QuaiOff indicated Paris reftel, UAR seems determined remain. Egyptians have in fact recently reoccupied several outlying posts and have had renewed resort to gas bombing on several occasions so far this month. We have seen no evidence Egyptians have modified their decision remain in Yemen at least until after South Arabian independence proclaimed in January 1968.
3.
Re French report suggesting Algerian troops for Yemen (para 2, Paris reftel), we of course unable confirm. As far as we aware, only Algerian combat until now outside Algeria is battalion posted along Suez Canal. However, UPI carried ticker item from Aden July 22 quoting “travellers from Republican areas of Yemen” that Algerian infantry and airmen are moving into Yemen. View greater role Algeria now seeking play in Near East, we cannot exclude this possibility and would appreciate any additional info addressees able develop. Repeat replies Aden.
Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 27 YEMEN. Confidential. Drafted by Brewer, cleared by Rene A. Tron (AFN), and Country Director for France and Benelux Robert Anderson, and approved by Brewer. Repeated to Algiers, Jidda, London, Moscow, Rome, and Aden.↩
  2. Telegram 338 from Rome, July 15, reported that the Italian Embassy in Sanaa had informed the Italian Foreign Ministry that 20,000-21,000 troops had left Yemen during May and June. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Telegram 1068 from Paris, July 21, reported that the Quai d’Orsay estimated that fewer than 20,000 UAR troops were left in Yemen. (Ibid.)↩