35. Editorial Note
As a result of the Six-Day War which broke out on June 5, 1967, between Israel on one side and the United Arab Republic, Jordan and Syria on the other, Algeria announced on June 6 that it was breaking diplomatic relations with the United States, which it accused of aiding Israel. That same day, Assistant Secretary Palmer called in Ambassador Guellal and told him that the United States intended to deal with the break on a strictly reciprocal basis and expected full protection of U.S. nationals and property in Algeria. Palmer also categorically denied that the United States had committed any acts of aggression and declared that it had made every effort to deal with the Near Eastern question with the “greatest impartiality.” (Telegram 208730 to Algiers, June 6; Department of State, Central Files, POL 17 US–ALG) Ambassador Jernegan left Algiers on June 10.
A U.S. Interests Section, staffed by U.S. diplomatic and consular personnel, was subsequently established in the Swiss Embassy. Consular relations between the two countries continued, and the U.S. Interests Section retained the right to direct telegraphic communications with Washington. Telegrams continued to be tagged “AmEmbassy Algiers.”