426. Editorial Note
At the 309th meeting of the National Security Council on January 11, with President Eisenhower presiding, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles discussed developments in Yemen in the course of an oral briefing for the Council on significant world developments. The relevant portion of the memorandum of discussion reads as follows: [Page 755]
“Mr. Dulles stated that it was difficult to get hard information on what is really happening in Yemen. However, he was inclined to think that the Yemeni have occupied certain areas along the undemarcated border with Aden. The British problem was, therefore, how to get them out. Mr. Dulles said that he could not see any reason why the British would themselves wish to penetrate into Yemen at this particular time. He predicted further difficulties in this area, but pointed out that the British have adequate forces in the Aden area to control any situation likely to develop.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)
At the 312th meeting of the Council on February 7, with the President presiding, Dulles again commented on developments in Yemen in the course of his briefing. The relevant portion of the memorandum of discussion reads as follows:
“Mr. Allen Dulles stated that the situation in Yemen had heated up considerably in the two weeks’ interval since he had last discussed it at a Council meeting. In these circumstances, it was very strange that the British had removed a battalion of their troops from Yemen and sent them back home. This leaves a rather small British force in Yemen, approximating about 1300 men. This was all that the British had to defend both the Aden colony and the Aden protectorate. The situation was quite ‘worrisome’, particularly in view of the fact that arms for Yemen are on their way from the USSR.” (Ibid.)