Office of the Historian

446. Memorandum From [name deleted] to the Chief of the Near East and South Asia Division in the Central Intelligence Agency Deputy Directorate of Operations (Critchfield)1

Washington, May 19, 1967.

SUBJECT

  • Suggestions for IRG Meeting on South Arabia2
1.
The following suggestions are for your consideration in preparation for IRG meeting on South Arabia:
a.

Most eyes in area are on our behavior toward the Egyptians. We will look foolish if we break relations with Yemen without going rather far down the list of what we can do to retaliate against Egypt. As a minimum we should use the vulnerability of our AID mission in Cairo under present agreements to insist on a clear statement of diplomatic immunity for its members or cut it back drastically—and preferably eliminate it.

[1 paragraph (81/2 lines of source text) not declassified]

c.
If we do not break relations with Yemen, we should argue for a radical shift in Embassy aims there. Until now the Embassy has run around looking for ways to help the Yemenis. We should cease all such activity and forget any public or cultural affairs activities too. We should maintain minimum contact with top Yemeni and Egyptian officials (the Charge), protect American [2-1/2 lines of source text not declassified]
d.
In planning for South Arabia, we should prepare for the contingency of a split with an Arab socialist regime in Aden proper and the traditional rulers outside. This may call for [1 line of source text not declassified] perhaps diplomatic missions of some sort on each side too.
e.
In such a chaotic and unruly world it may be far more important in protecting U.S. interests to have some collaborators [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] rather than to run around looking for “leverage” in AID or cultural programs.
2.
The above points deal with the narrower elements of the problem, but might be worked into the discussion [2 lines of source text not declassified]
[initials not declassified]
[title not declassified]
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DDO/NE (Critchfield) Files: Job 80-00105A, Box 2, IRG/NEA Working File, Communist Presence, UAR/South Arabia. Secret.↩
  2. See Document 95.↩