Oman and the Yemens
223. Telegram From the Embassy in the Yemen Arab Republic to the Department of State
Summary: Yemeni Foreign Minister al-Asnaj met with Chargé Ransom and explained the Soviet arms shipments of the previous month. They also discussed Saudi policy toward the Yemen Arab Republic and the future of the U.S.–YAR relationship.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Sana’a Embassy Files: Lot 79F206, DEF 19, Military Assistance/YAR Arms. Secret. No time of transmission indicated. Drafted by DCM Ransom. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, Jidda, Kuwait City, and Muscat. Telegram 477 from Sana’a, February 11, is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760051–1144.
224. Intelligence Report Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Department of State
Summary: The report discussed the significance of the March 10, 1976, joint announcement by Saudi and PDRY officials of the “normalization” of mutual relations.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Manama Embassy Files: Lot 78F118, POL 15, Government (Saudi Arabia), Classified. Secret; Noforn; Nocontract; Orcon. Drafted by M. Graeme Bannerman (INR/DDR/RNA/NE); approved by Special Assistant George S. Harris (INR/DDR/RNA).
225. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
Summary: The Department directed the Embassy to persuade the U.K. Government to delay informing Sultan Qaboos of its intention to withdraw from Masirah Island, so as to give the United States more time to weigh options for the possible use of its airfield.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760132–0291. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated to Jidda, Muscat, and Tehran. Drafted by Molineaux; cleared in PM/ISO and NEA, and by Oakley and Sick; approved by Palmer. Telegram 4978 from London, March 31, is ibid., D760121–0254. In telegram 5586 from London, April 9, the Embassy reported that U.K. officials requested the United States to negotiate directly with Sultan Qaboos, as they did not wish to delay notifying him of their intention to depart. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for Middle East and South Asian Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 19, Oman, Folder 1)
226. Memorandum From Clinton E. Granger of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
Summary: Granger recommended that Scowcroft notify Congress of the sale of military equipment to the Yemen Arab Republic.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for the Middle East and South Asia, Box 35, Yemen. Secret. Janka and Oakley concurred. Scowcroft initialed his approval. Attached but not published are the notification to Congress and a breakdown of the sale. Discussion of the details of the sale was reported in telegram 2247 from Jidda, March 28. (National Archives, RG 84, Sana’a Embassy Files: Lot 79F206, DEF 19, Military Assistance/YAR Arms) Jordan, the head of the U.S. negotiating team, also reported on the meeting to Clements. (Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–79–0037, Yemen 000.1–472, 1976)
227. Memorandum From Robert B. Oakley of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
Summary: Given the U.K. abandonment of its Masirah Island facility, Oakley provided Scowcroft with a summary of U.S. options, pointing out the island’s importance for [text not declassified] flights.
Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 41, NSSM 238. Secret. Sent for information. Scowcroft wrote “Thanks” at the top of the memorandum. Tabs A and C were not found. Tab B is published as Document 225. NSSMs 217 and 238 are Documents 217 and 25, respectively.
228. Telegram From the Embassy in the Yemen Arab Republic to the Departments of State and Defense
Summary: Ambassador Scotes and DATT Prados reported on their meeting with Ahmad al-Ghashmi to discuss the results of Saudi Prince Sultan’s visit to Yemen.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760152–0498. Secret. Repeated to Jidda, CINCEUR, and DIA. This report was meant to clarify contradictory information reported by the Embassy in telegram 1313 from Sana’a April 19, and telegram 1366 from Sana’a, April 20. (National Archives, RG 84, Sana’a Embassy Files: Lot 79F206, POL 7, Visits, Prince Sultan)
229. Letter From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Ellsworth) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Sisco)
Summary: Ellsworth informed Sisco of the Department of Defense’s view that Masirah Island was valuable to the United States as a counterweight to the new Soviet facility at Berbera, Somalia, and as an adjunct to the joint U.S.–U.K. base at Diego Garcia.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Middle East and South Asia, Box 32, Trucial States (3). Secret. Published from a copy that indicates Ellsworth signed the original. On May 7, British Foreign Secretary Crosland sent a letter to Kissinger informing him of his government’s decision to postpone notifying Sultan Qaboos until after the 1976 Oslo NATO meeting. The letter was transmitted in telegram 122786 to London, May 19. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760193–0612)
230. Letter From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Clements) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Summary: Clements reported on his recent meeting with Ahmad al-Ghashmi while visiting the Middle East.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Sana’a Embassy Files: Lot 70F206, DEF 19, Military Assistance/YAR Arms. Confidential. Scotes asked Clements in a November 2 letter to support increased MAP funding. (Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–79–0037, Yemen 0001.–472) Clements and Scotes met with Yemeni Prime Minister Abdal Aziz Abd al-Ghani on October 25, discussing training and other issues, as reported in telegram 3797 from Sana’a, October 30. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760405–0434) The training of Yemeni officers is discussed in telegram 33 from Sana’a, February 15. (Ibid., RG 84, Sana’a Embassy Files: Lot 79F206, DEF 19, Military Assistance/YAR Arms)
231. Telegram From the Embassy in the Yemen Arab Republic to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Summary: The Embassy provided a comprehensive evaluation of outside economic and military influence on the Yemen Arab Republic, in response to an ROK request.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760473–1178. Confidential. Repeated to the Department and Seoul. Telegrams 6934 from Jidda, December 8, and A–35 from Sana’a, October 30, are ibid., D760454–0406 and P760173–2071, respectively.