459. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Battle) to Secretary of State Rusk1
SUBJECT
- New Cabinet in Yemen
President Sallal announced a reorganization of his government on October 13. Dropping the most thoroughly discredited stooges of the UAR from his Cabinet, he has chosen several well-known moderate and conservative personalities whose credentials should be acceptable to all but the most die-hard Royalist oppositionists to the Republic. Sallal himself has become Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, as well as President and Commander-in-Chief.
[Page 850]Of particular interest is the appointment of a person as Adviser for Presidential Affairs who maintained fairly close and cordial relations with the American Embassy in Yemen, and who is acceptable to Yemeni tribes.
Sallal quite obviously is trimming his sails as he heads into a precarious period when his Egyptian supporters finally leave Yemen. They have announced they will be out of the capital, Sanaa, by October 15 and completely out of Yemen by December 15. Meanwhile several members of the outgoing Cabinet, known for their loyalty to the UAR, are believed to have left Yemen for safe-haven in Egypt.
Hard-bitten Royalists will not be mollified by the announcement of a new government but will continue to insist upon and may cause the ouster of Sallal. Nevertheless, he is demonstrating an ability to gain the cooperation of a few of the country’s most important tribal leaders and to maintain Army loyalty. Sallal is trying to ride out the storm which Egyptian withdrawal will set in motion. It is too early to determine whether he has more courage than good judgment in making this attempt.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 15-1 YEMEN. Confidential. Drafted by Dinsmore and cleared by Brewer.↩