424. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt 1
2354. Embassy requested convey following message Abu Taleb for Imam from USG.2
We have received from representatives Your Majesty’s Government and US representatives in area expressions concern over apparent delays in commencement operations US company in Yemen.
We have passed to company Your Majesty’s desire that activities be started at early date and are now informed by company that President Gabier on way to Yemen and expects visit your officials and arrange early commencement activities. We hope activity within next few months will write further chapter in history cordial relations between our two Governments. Similarly we are pleased that US airline, through Saudi Arabian Airlines, is now able assist you in your operations.
Department has noted Your Majesty’s remarks to Ambassador last October on threat posed to Yemen and all Arab world by [Page 752] Communist imperialism. Department likewise aware problems which exist between Yemen and United Kingdom and has, in recent talks with British, emphasized desirability peaceful settlement all existing disputes in Arabian Peninsula.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 886H.2553/3–2956. Secret. Drafted by Newsom and approved by Allen. Repeated to Jidda and Aden.↩
- On March 28, in a memorandum to Allen referring to the problem of possible Soviet arms shipments to Yemen, Wilkins suggested that the United States send a message to the Government of Yemen through the Yemeni Ambassador in Cairo, Abd al-Rahwan Abu Taleb. Wilkins also recommended that the Department might mention “generally” to George E. Allen, Chairman of the Board of the Yemen Development Corporation, the “critical state of our relations with the Yemen and the importance of early action on the part of his company.” (Ibid., 786H.56/3–2856)↩
- On March 31, the Embassy in Cairo informed the Department that it had conveyed the message to Abu Taleb and Mohamed Ibn Abdulla al-Amri. (Telegram 1958; ibid., 886H.2553/3–3156.↩