435. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State1
6665. 1. In view possible effects yesterday’s unleashing in Yemen of ex-King Saud2 could have on our mediation effort, I asked for appointment and was received by Under Secretary EL Feki this morning.
2. Referring to my meeting with Foreign Minister Riad on April 8 I said that more than two weeks had now passed and that I was naturally interested in UARG’s reaction to our proposed terms of reference. I said that our Ambassador in Jidda had discussed these draft terms of reference with King Feisal on April 11 and that we would consult both parties again as soon as we heard from UARG. EL Feki asked whether we had received Saudi reaction during our April 11 meeting and I said that we had but that in order to maintain strict impartiality it would not of course be possible to discuss King Feisal’s views until those of Pres Nasser were also known.
3. As he had during informal corner conversation with me during the Danish Amb’s reception of Apr 18, EL Feki again indicated obliquely that UARG was aware in part at least of King Feisal’s views.
4. In this connection I would appreciate learning what, if anything, Amb Kamel has been told in Washington. We have held on to this very tightly here.
5. Amb EL Feki said he was sorry that he could only say our proposed terms of reference were still under consideration and assure me that he would get in touch immediately when he had something to say. I closed conversation on this subject by saying we wished to get to work as soon as possible. I asked whether he thought King Saud’s Yemen trip would be harmful to our mediation effort. He said emphatically that it would not insofar as his govt was concerned. We left the matter there.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 27 YEMEN. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Jidda.↩
- On April 23 former King Saud arrived in Sanaa from Cairo aboard a UAR plane with UAR Vice President Amer and was given full military honors before assembled ministers, diplomats, and high-ranking Yemeni Government officials. Radio Sanaa subsequently broadcast speeches by Yemeni President Sallal and Saud in which Sallal referred to Saud as the “legal king of the Saudi people”; while Saud announced that, on behalf of the Saudi people, he fully recognized the Yemen Arab Republic and President Sallal. (Telegrams 442 and 444 from Sanaa, April 23, ibid., POL 7 SAUD) Telegram 180743 to Sanaa, April 23, instructed the Charge and other Embassy officers not to attend any official functions specifically honoring former King Saud. (Ibid.)↩