466. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Battle) to Acting Secretary of State Katzenbach1
SUBJECT
- Yemen: Prime Minister’s Letter to Secretary
In line with our willingness to meet informally with officials of the Yemen Arab Republic Government (YARG) to discuss outstanding problems, Ambassador Goldberg and NEA/ARP officers on December 8 met with Yahya Jaghman, YARG delegate to the United Nations, in the New York office of Italian Ambassador Vinci, who heads his country delegation to the UN. Ambassador Goldberg was present for an initial few moments with the conferees. The substance of the talks with Jaghman was reported in State 82442, which is attached at Tab A.2
[Page 859]During the meeting Jaghman delivered a letter dated November 30 addressed to the Secretary from YARG Prime Minister Muhsin al Aini. The letter, and a Yemeni translation thereof, is attached at Tab B.3
Al Aini was YARG Ambassador to Washington and to the UN until October 1966. During Al Aini’s incumbency in these positions the Secretary apparently developed respect and regard for him. Thus, Al Aini writes as to a close acquaintance.
The Prime Minister, writing from outside his country (he has been on a trip to North African capitals) states his government’s aim to establish peace, stability and unity in Yemen and asserts his surprise over what he alleges is a new “deluge of money, arms and supplies flooding the country.” Al Aini declares that this effort cannot “force the monarchy anew upon Yemen” but that it will cause “war and strife.” The Prime Minister asserts that the Yemeni civil war “is about to become a war among bigger powers” and refers to Viet Nam. He then asks the Secretary to “give the matter the consideration it deserves … for the sake of world peace.”
We do not believe that a formal reply is necessary. The United States has no diplomatic relations with Yemen at present and the military situation within Yemen is highly confused, with Republicans and Royalists fighting fiercely for control of Sanaa. A reply at this time would be misinterpreted as implying USG support for the YARG at a time when it is receiving active military help from the Russians and Saudi support of the Royalists is continuing.
Nevertheless, in view of the Secretary’s personal regard for Al Aini, we believe it would be appropriate to convey a brief oral acknowledgment to Jaghman in New York. We would simply plan to acknowledge Al Aini’s letter on the Secretary’s behalf, express the Secretary’s continuing personal friendship for the Prime Minister and note our own view that compromise among contending Yemeni elements seems the only sure way of ending the country’s five-year civil war. We would note confirmed reports of Soviet activity, deny Egyptian and Yemeni controlled press stories indicating that the United States is in any way involved, and express regret that Yemen continues to lend itself to false propaganda campaigns against this government.
Recommendation
That you approve an oral response along the foregoing lines.4
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 27 YEMEN. Confidential. Drafted by Dinsmore and Brewer and cleared by Davies.↩
- Telegram 82442 to Rome, December 9, described the December 8 meeting with Jaghman, who alleged that the Saudis were currently providing “massive” assistance to tribes supporting the royalists and indicated that the U.S. Government could, if it wished, limit Saudi support of the royalists. A Department officer noted that U.S. information about the situation in Yemen was not reassuring, especially concerning the use of Soviet pilots. He pointed out that the Yemeni Government’s refusal to meet with the royalists offered the opposition no alternative but military action. (Ibid.)↩
- Not attached.↩
- Katzenbach initialed the approval line on December 13. A handwritten notation reads: “Action taken 12/13/67. See outgoing telegram.” Reference is presumably to telegram 84379 to Rome; Document 467.↩