Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970

192. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rogers in Perth, the Interests Section in Sanaa, and the Embassy in Japan¹

Washington, June 29, 1972, 0130Z.

Tosec 123/117268. Tokyo eyes only for Asst Secy Sisco. Ref: Sanaa 466.

1. You are authorized to seek YARG agreement to scenario proposed in State 116176.²

2. Re para 2 reftel,³ we would like to receive written communication from YARG to effect that charges pending against Liapis and Hartman at time of their departure from Yemen in 1967 have been dropped or withdrawn for lack of evidence of illegal conduct on their part. It would be even more desirable if in addition YARG would include in communication to US statement that Liapis and Hartman have been cleared of all suspicion of engaging in illegal activities. While it would not be necessary for YARG to make public announcement or statement on this matter, we would expect it to follow usual procedure for dismissal or withdrawal of criminal charges including appropriate entry in formal public records of court and/or prosecutors office where charges were originally recorded.

3. Concur in desirability of your suggestion in para 3 reftel as to form of compensation.⁴ We must reserve judgment on appropriateness of USG accepting this type of payment in kind for full value of compensation pending results of negotiations on amount of compensation to be paid.

Irwin

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 953, VIP Visits, Secretary of State’s Visit to the Mid-East and European Countries, June 28–July 7, 1972. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted on June 28 by Stephen M. Boyd (L/NEA); cleared in L/C, L/M/SCA, and NEA/ARP; and approved by Atherton.
2. In telegram 466 from Sanaa, June 28, Stein wrote that Yemen would cooperate with the United States on all points contained in telegram 116176 to Sanaa, June 28. Telegram 116176 noted that resumption of relations required that the charges levied against AID officials Stephen Liapis and Harold Hartman at the time diplomatic relations were broken be withdrawn, and that Yemen publicly state there was no truth to the story that U.S. forces were involved in the June 1967 attack on Arab states. Issues related to compensation could be negotiated later. (Both ibid.)
3. Paragraph 2 of telegram 466 stated that Yemen preferred not to make a public statement on the charges against the AID workers. Stein suggested that the Department give him a text of what it would like to receive and that any letter on the issue wait until after Rogers’s visit.
4. Paragraph 3 of telegram 466 stated the best compensation would be for Yemen to make rent-free land available to the United States for the eventual construction of its Embassy.