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

56. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic¹

Washington, May 5, 1964, 6:25 p.m.

5164. Ref: Cairo’s 2536;² USUN’s 3689 rptd info Cairo 221.³ Subject: Committee of 24—Aden.

US voted against Aden res in Comite of 24 as it not conducive settlement difficult Aden problem and contrary our general position of support UK this issue. However, we did not make statement during Comite debate in effort avoid overexposure our differences with Afro-Asians. Embassy will recall US voted no on similar Comite of 24 and General Assembly resolutions in 1963.

We particularly opposed to para in recent res calling for removal UK Aden military base because of importance we attach maintenance base as protection for special UK position in Persian Gulf. We also highly doubtful that Comite subcommittee visits to Aden called for by res would be desirable in present circumstances.⁴

Believe your discussions with UARG re Aden will be more productive in general context than in specific terms Comite res. UAR, which not member Comite of 24, has not raised question our Comite vote with Dept.

Re discussion with UAR on over-all Aden issue see cable to follow.⁵

Rusk

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964-66, POL 19 ADEN/UN. Confidential. Drafted by Briggs; cleared by Seelye, EUR United Nations Adviser Richard Friedman, Francois M. Dickman (NEA), Colonel Robinson (G/PM), and Buffum; and approved by Sisco. Repeated to USUN.
2. Telegram 2536 from Cairo, April 29, asked for information regarding the U.S. position on the resolution on Aden adopted by the UN Committee of 24 (the Special Committee on the Situation With Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples) on April 9. (Ibid.) The resolution, which urged early removal of the U.K. base at Aden, was adopted by a vote of 19 to 3 (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) with 2 abstentions (Denmark, Italy). For text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1964, pp. 716-717. For information on the U.S. position on the UN Security Council resolution of April 9 condemning U.K. reprisals for Yemeni attacks on the South Arabian Federation, see Documents 325–330. The text of the resolution is printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1964, pp. 715-716.
3. Dated April 24. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964-66, UN 10-4)
4. Following a number of incidents along the Aden-Yemen border, the Committee of 24 passed a resolution on May 11 stating that recent British military actions in the region endangered international peace and security and urging the United Kingdom to cease all military measures against the people of the territory. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 18 to 3 (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) with 2 abstentions (Denmark, Italy). For text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1964, pp. 718-719.
5. See Document 57.