239. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Yemen.]

2. Saudi Views on US-South Yemen Relations. The Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister has reiterated the Saudi desire that we not take steps to normalize relations with South Yemen until King Khalid has had an opportunity to review Saudi policy toward South Yemen. He summarized current Saudi views by saying they are pessimistic about the trend of events in South Yemen, believe the more radical elements in the PDRY regime are consolidating their power,2 and increasingly concerned over the active South Yemen role in the Horn. The Saudis will find it difficult to understand if we decide to send a delegation to Aden as previously agreed with the South Yemenis3 until we have a firm Saudi reaction. I have talked to John West about this and he shares my view that we should defer a decision.

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Yemen.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, Plains File, Subject File, Box 38, State Department Evening Reports, 3/78. Secret. In the upper right-hand corner of the first page of the memorandum, Carter wrote: “Cy J.”
  2. Carter underlined the phrase “the more radical elements in the PDRY regime are consolidating their power,” and wrote in the left-hand margin “I don’t agree, but will yield to your opinion—This is a good way to insure this will happen,” with an arrow pointing toward the underlined passage.
  3. See Document 232.