114. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts1
72852. 1. Report of UN Special Mission on Aden was circulated at UN November 20.2 Conclusions were summarized USUN 2306,3 which being repeated Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Kuwait and Tehran. They are strongly biased against British. Committee of 24 decided Nov 21 to pass Mission report on to UNGA without comment. Following [Page 246] line may be used by addressees in event subject raised by others during normal contacts.
2. UN Mission’s claim that its efforts make contact with South Arabian political groups were obstructed by British overlooks fact that both NLF and FLOSY refused for long period to cooperate with Mission. When FLOSY finally did offer talk with Mission, events had overtaken their efforts. When NLF asserted its supremacy over FLOSY through para-military struggle, British had no choice except to deal with changing situation on the ground. Until recently FLOSY/NLF agreement seemed likely but this no longer the case due further fighting for which both radical groups to blame. Idea that NLF victory in South Arabia was made possible through British-South Arabian Army collusion overlooks both indigenous strength and dynamism of NLF and fact NLF responsible for more terror killings of British than any other group. Furthermore it is our impression South Arabian Army is political power on its own and British Commander has only tenuous control, particularly over political activities of Arab officers, as UK prepares to depart.
3. In making foregoing points, addressees should make clear we hold no particular brief for either NLF or FLOSY and particularly deplore impact on innocent South Arabians, as well as foreigners, which terror tactics both organizations have caused. There is enough blame in South Arabian situation for all. UN Mission made extended effort to bring parties together; it is to be regretted that Mission in its report seems to have preferred dwelling on past rather than focussing pragmatically on situation as it exists in South Arabia today.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 16 ADEN. Confidential. Drafted by Brewer and Dinsmore on November 21, cleared by Brown, and approved by Brewer. Sent to Aden, Amman, Beirut, Jidda, Kuwait, London, Tehran, Tel Aviv, and USUN.↩
- The Special Mission reported on November 10 that it was not able to meet with representatives of all political groups in the territory because conditions were not conducive, for which it blamed the United Kingdom. The Mission reported it made clear to the United Kingdom that negotiations for forming a caretaker government should include representatives from both FLOSY and NLF, but that the army, which was under British control, had announced on November 6 that it recognized only the NLF. (UN doc. A/6700/Rev. 1, Ch. VI, Annex III)↩
- Dated November 16. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 19 ADEN/UN)↩