UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Pa9e 5 Dafe 12/06/2006 Time 2:24:31 PM
S-0877-0001-05-00001
Expanded Number S-0877-0001 -05-00001
Title items-in-Peace-keeping operations - Yemen - minutes of meetings
Date Created 04/10/1963
Record Type Archival Item
Container S-0877-0001: Peace-Keeping Operations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant - Yemen (United Nations Observation Mission - UNYOM)
Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit UKITED NATIONS r:.-ass Services Office of Public Infconation Unit-..?. Nations, N.Y.
(FOR USE OP IHFOHMAl'IOU MEDIA. — MOT Ail OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Eelease SG/l6ll YOM/3 k November 1963 PIER SPIIsELLI APPOINTED SECRETARY- GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN YEMEN
. The Secretary-General, U Thant, has asked Pier P. Spinelli, Under- secretary and Director of the Suroj .in Office of the United Nations, to undertake temporarily an assigrr?ent as his Special Representative in Yemen, in which capacity he will also head the Yemen Observation Mission (UNYOM). Mr. Spinelli plans to arrive in Sana on or about 8 November and to devote the next few weeks to this special assignment. Lieutenant-General P.S, Gyani, who has been in command of U23YOM since 10 September, had been asked to serve on.Ty until 4 November and undertook the assignment on leave from his post as Comnander ^f the United Nations Emergency Force (UMSF) on ohis understanding. General Gyani will be returning to IMSF on 7 November, with high commendation from the Secretary-General for the excellent service he has rendered in Yemen. General' Gyani will then go back to Sana on 11 November for a few days, for consultations with Mr. Spinelli. Mr. Spinelli has served on other United Nations missions of a special and difficult character. These include his role as Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Jordan since September 195&, and as Special Representative in the former Trust Territory of Togoland. Colonel Branko Pavlovie wi"~l remain with USYOM as Chief of Staff •and as military adviser.
* ### BM HR CUMS VAN HORN NX
UPI 229. URGENT HV PABEIRUTY MOIGNF; SEPTY . 5
UPI 230 1ST ADD VON HORN BEIRUT XXX SAID. •I HAD TO TAKE THE DRASTIC ACTION.OF SACRIFICING MY JOB FOR THE SAKE OF THE UNITED NATIONS REPUTATION AND WITH THE SOLE HOPE OF IMPROVING THE UNYOM OPERATION," HE SAID. •ALTHOUGH I SINCERELY HOPE THE PROBLEMS OF ONYOM HAVE BEEN DEFINITELY SOLVED BY BY RESIGNATION, ON BEHALF OF THE MANY WHO SUFFERED IB THE CONGO AND YEMEN AND ELSEWHERE, I HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE NECESSITY FOR AN AGONIZING REAPPRAISAL OF UNITED NATIONS SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF SUPPORTING IUN* MISSIONS IN THE FIELD,* HE SAID, VON HORN SPOKE IN THE BEDROOM OF THE PHOENECIA HOTEL, WHERE HE HAS BEEN LIVING SINCE HIS RESIGNATION. MILITARY TRUNKS BEARING LABELS OF HIS 37 YEARS SWEDISH MILITARY SERVICE LINED THE WALLS. HIS DISCARDED U.N. UNIFORMS, INCLUDING PALE BLUE BERETS AND NECKERCHIEF^ LAY SCATTERED ON THE BED. MOREAKA22P UPI-236 3RD ADD VON HORN BEIRUT XXX INFORMATION. VON HORN SAID DESPITE REPEATED PROTESTS TO U.N. HEADQUARTER? IN NEW YORK HE DID NOT DECEIVE SUFFICIENT EQUIPMENT TO CARRY OUT THE UNYOM MISSION PROPERLY. "I WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT NEW YORK WAS DOING ITS BEST," HE PAID. "FIX YEARS EXPERIENCE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT MISSIONS ENTITLES ME TO STATE REGRETFULLY THAT NEW YORK'S BEST IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH."
REFUTING THANT'S REPORT THAT THE MORALE OF UNYOM PERSONNEL WAC "EXTREMELY HIGH," VON HORN SAID: "IT IS AN UNDOUBTED FACT THAT AT THE TIME OF MY RESIGNATION THE MORALE OF UNYOM PERSONNEL HAD BEEN SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY LACK OF SUPPORT FROM NEW YORK AND EVEN BY LACK OF BASIC FOOD SUPPLIES." (MORE) MP435PED UPI 231 2ND ADD VN HOBR BEIRUT XXX BED, VON HORN.WAS DRESSED IN A WHITE SPORTS SHIRT AND CHAIN-SMOKED INCESSANTLY AS HE PERUSED DISPATCHES ON U.N, SECRETARY GENERAL 0 THANT'S REPORT ON THE YEMEN OPERATION. VON HORN'S REACTION TO THE REPORT VARIED FROM DISBELIEVING LAUGHTER TO ANGRY SNORTS. HE ANGRILY REJECTED THANT'S CLAIM THAT HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE YEMEN MISSION HAD BEEN ACCEPTED *FOR THE GOOD OF THE MISSION AND FOR THE GOOD OF VAN HORN PERSONALLY.* i HE DENOUNCED THANT'S REFERENCE TO "IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECK- LESS ACCOUNTS ABOUT THE YEMEN MISSION* EMANATING FROM BEIRUT SINCE LAST VEEK. HE SUGGESTED STRONGLY THAT THE U.N. SECRETARIAT HAD CENSORED HIS REPORTS TO U THANT, THUS FORCING THE SECRETARY GENERAL TO TAKE, DECISIONS BASED ON FALSE INFORMATION. MOREAK426PED UPI-23S 4TH ADD VON HORN BEIRUT XXX SUPPLIES.- ' "THE REASONS FOR MY RESIGNATION WERE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THE UNYOM OPERATIONS FROM THE U.H. SECRETARIAT IN NEW YORK, PARTICULARLY SO FAR AS PROVISION OF ADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PERMITTING FULFILMENT OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE MISSION WERE CONCERNED," VOi HORN SAID* "IN THIS CONNECTION, I WARNED THE SECRETARIAT THAT I WOULD BE FORCED TO WITHDRAW GROUND OBSERVER UNITS BY THE END OF AUGUST UNLESS SUFFICIENT TWIN-ENGINED AIRCRAFT WERE PROVIDED TO ENABLE ME TO MAINTAIN MY ON ITS IN THE FIELD." THE GROUND UNITS THE SWEDISH GENERAL REFERRED TO ARE YUGOSLAV UNITS OPERATING MAINLY ALONG THE SAUDI-ARABIAN BORDER ACROSS WHICH SUPPLIES FOR THE YEMENI ROYALISTS ARE MOVING. IN HIS REPORT YESTERDAY U THANT PROMISED TO PROVIDE CANADIAN "OTTER" AIRCRAFT FOR THE YEMEN MISSION, BUT THESE PLANES ARE SINGLE-ENGINED AND CONSIDERED UNNECESSARILY RISKY FOR THE YEMEN OPERATION. . (MORE) MP43SPED BPI-240 , • 5TH ADD VON HORN BEIRUT X X X OPERATIOS. . "IN MY REPORT TO.THE SECRETARY GENERAL 08 ESTIMATED REEDS FOR IHYOH, I PRESENTED «Y ESTIMATES AS 'ABSOLUTE MINIMUM'," VCN HORN SAID. "MY FIRM CONVICTION WAS THAT ANYTHING LESS WOULD ONLY 'INVITE FAILURE' AND BE DETRIMENTAL TO^THE U.N. REPUTATION. •I DID »Y UTMOST TO PROVIDE MY MISSION WITH THE BARE MINIMUM TO WHICH I FELT MY SOLDIERS' ARDUOUS DUTIES IN FORBIDDING AREAS AUTOMATICALLY ENTITLED THEM.* "BUT I WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT FOR 'BUDGETARY REASONS' THE SECRETARY GENERAL WAS UNABLE TO MEET THESE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, "AS I FELT THE SECRETARY GENERAL HAD BEEN MISLED BY ADVICE THAT IT WAS,POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN THE MISSION ON A LEVEL CONSIDERABLY BELOW MY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS I FELT DUTY BOUND TO REPORT ACCORDINGLY," HE SAID THAT HIS PRESENTATION OF LOGISTICS PROBLEMS TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL "GRADUALLY BECAME SOMEWHAT BLUNT." MORE MP444PED (BRUCE i MORE UPCMG LATER NX)
II TNX.. UPI-S5Q . 6TH ADD VON HORN BEIRUT XXX BLUNT.* REFERRING TO THANT'S STATEMENT ABOUT IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECKLESS ACCOUNTS OF CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE MISSION* EMANATING FROM BEIRUT, VON HORN SAID* , "BY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE MISSION SINCE ITS INCEPTION MAKES IT IMPERATIVE FOR HE TO CORR- OBORATE THE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS DUE TO LACK OF ESSENTIAL LOGISTICALSUPPORT, TRANSPORTATION AND EVEN BASIC FOOD SUPPLIES, •THE SHORTAGE OF AIRCRAFT, EVEN HAS NECESSITATED MISSIONS WITH- OUT ADEQUATE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE, LEADING THOSE INVOLVED TO BE FORCED TO UNDERTAKE UNNECESSARY HAZARDS. "THESE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN AMPLY REPORTED TO NEW YORK AND ARE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE MIDEAST, DESPITE THIS, THE FACTS INVOLVED APPEAR TO HAVE PLAYED NO ROLE IN THE REPORT ON THE MISSION TO ' DATE. . •FROM THIS I CAR ONLY DRAW THE CONCLUSION THAT MY REPORTS FROM THE FIELD HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL IN THEIR TRUE LIGHT, RESULTING IN LACK OF ADEQUATE ACTION TO OVERCOME THESE OUTSTANDING DEFICITS." MORE. MP509PED
UPI-251 7TH ADD VON HORN BEIRUT XXX DEFICITS," VON HORN WAS BITTER IN COMMENTING ON SECRETARY GENERAL THANT*S CLAIM THAT MORALE IN THE YEMEN MISSION WAS HIGH AND THAT VON HORN'S RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED "FOR THE GOOD OF THE MISSION," "IF THE INSPIRING PRESENCE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL»S PERSONAL MILITARY ADVISER. (INDIAN GEN. INDARJIT RIJHYE) WAS THE ONLY REASON FOR THE IMPROVEMENT IN MORALE, I REGRET THAT OVER SO MANY YEARS SO MANY SOLDIERS FROM ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN MADE TO SUFFER FROM HY INEXPERIENCE AND INADEQUATE LEADERSHIP," HE SAID. VON HORN SAID THAT "IF THEY HAD THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK" THOSE SOLDIERS WHO SERVED UNDER HIM "WOULD FULLY CORROBORATE THE FACTS WHICH I.ONLY PRESENT IN MY SINCERE BELIEF IN THE IDEALS OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND IN THE HOPE OF CONSTRUCTIVE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE." KP512PED AD/at
AFP 2? February 1963
Already contemplated for several weeks, Dr. Bunche's mission in Yemen is aimed at stopping the intervention of Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the internal affairs of Yemen and, if possible, at putting an end to the conflict between Republicans and Royalists. This is the implication given by official British sources to the sending of Dr. Bunche by U Thant, after consultations with certain Powers. These sources also said that this mission had no relation with the incident in the Emirite of Beihan during which troops of the Federation of Saudi Arabia with British officers yesterday expelled the unit of Republican Yemen troops. In Whitehall, the official interpretation is the one given yesterday by Mr. Nigel Fisher, Under-Secretary for Colonial Affairs, and it is denied that this was a British attack against Yemen. The British Government has not recognized the Republican regime of Sanaa and maintains its policy of non-intervention in the Yemenite conflict. In the meantime, Dr. Bunche's mission has the support of the British Government which thinks that it could be a useful mission, under the present circumstances. AD/at Unofficial translation AFP 1 March 1%3
CAIRO "British troops last night launched new agression against Yemen near Harib", reported a Middle Eastern information agency, citing a dispatch addressed by the Harib-region command to the joint Egyptian-Yemeni command at Sana 'a* The dispatch confirms that the RAF has continued attacking Yemeni frontiers, Today Abdel Hakim Amer, Vice-President of the Republic and of the "Conseil superieur" of the UAR's armed forces conferred for four hours with General Anouar el Kadi, Commander of the Egyptian forces in Yemen and other high-ranking officers to examine the military situation at Yemen's borders.
Kurdish leader Col. Jalal Talabani, the representative of_/Mullah Mustafa el Baraaani, today informed the Government of Iraq that he would wait until this evening for that Government's reply on its intentions regarding the problem of the Kurds. The Kurds demand a clear separation between the Kurdish zone and the rest of Iraq, an independent administration, usage of the Kurdish language, an impor- tant share in the oil revenues and an army composed exclusively of Kurds. If an agreement were impossible, the Kurds are ready to fight so Colonel Talabani told the press. He also talked again with the National Council of the revolution, but as yet this has not yielded any positive results. The Mullah, armed and in the mountains, is impatient; he would be ready to begin the struggle again but in a different form. Now he would demand complete independence for a Kurdish state, instead of autonomy. Unofficial translation AFP 28 February 1963
BEIRUT En route to Yemen, Mi1. Bunche declared that for the UN the only government of Yemen is that of Marshal Abdallah Sallal. "If I were invited to meet with Tmi°m Badr or his representatives, I would not be able to do so before being formally authorized by the Secretary-General U Thant." Mr. Bunche added that he will have discussions with Pres. Sallal but that he had no particular proposal andthat he was not authorized to make any commitment in the name of the UN to the Yemenite leaders. Mr. Bunche also confirmed that his mission was only fact-finding, and that there was no question of his contacting either Saudi Arabia or Egypt for a conciliation. MC/at
AFP - 6 March 1963
CAIRO
"I noticed, in all the parts of Yemeni territory that I visited, that the Government of President Abdullah Sallal is in effective control of the country", said Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, Drrier-Secretary for Special Political Affairs, yesterday evening on arriving at Cairo, to the hundred or so Egyptian and foreign journalists who were at the airport to meet him. "President Sallal told me that -I could go anywhere I liked", he added, "and I myself chose to visit Sana'a, Taez and Mareb". U Thant's special envoy to Yemen said that he had not seen any "signs of fighting" anywhere. Dr. Bunche reported that he had been "warmly welcomed by the authorities and people of Yemen" and that he had been "considerably impressed by the personality of President Sallal" with whom he had had a long talk. He also said that he had met Marshall Abdel Hakim Amer and a number of foreign diplomats and journalists. "I discovered," he remarked, "that Yemen was in great need of assistance of all kinds". Speaking of "infiltration" in Yemen, the UN Under-Secretary states: "The United Nations isopposed to infiltration and interference by any c©untry in the internal affairs of other States and it will use all the means at its disposal to put an end to foreign intervention in the affairs of Yemen." AD/at
Unofficial translation AFP 8 March 1963
JEDDAH The Saudi Arabian port of Jizane has been the object of intensive bombing by the Egyptian naval forces during the past three days, and practically all port installations have been destroyed, diplomatic sources in Jeddah report. However, this news has not been announced officially. The same sources believe that Prince Feisal, Prime Minister and heir of Saudi Arabia, does not wish to reveal at the present time the extent of the aerial and naval attacks on Saudi Arabia during the past weeks in order to prevent violent reactions on the part of the Saudi Arabian people towards Egyptian people still in Arabia. On the other hand, talks are taking place in Damman between Prince Feisal and his ministers on the one hand, and several foreign individuals whose identities have not been revealed on the other. It is known that Mr. Raymond Hare, USA Ambassador, went to Damman from Jeddah to follow the development of these meetings which are termed "extremely important" by an authorized source, and of such a nature as to influence in a short period of time the political trend in Saudi Arabia. Unofficial translation AFP 8 March 1963
BEIRUT Ten hours after the beginning of the coup d'etat in Damascus, its leaders appear to control the country. The rebels took over Damascus radio and broadcast prepared statements justifying the movement and announcing that the national council of the revolution had assumed power. Rebel leaders currently are unknown, except for Genl. Abdullah Jabrini, commander-in-chief of the internal security forces. A curfew has been imposed and will be in effect until Saturday, 0400 GMT. Later a state of emergency was again declared for the entire country} this had been lifted only a few weeks ago by the government of Khaled el Azem. News of the coup has not reached the entire interior area as yet, but the whole country is expected to follow the new regime. It is believed that the principal ministers, Communist directors, most of the party leaders, General Abdel Kerim Zahreddine and all officers of the left have been arrested. The president of the Council, Khaled el Azem, and his family have sought refuge in the Turkish Embassy in Damascus. During the early hours of the coup, foreign intervention was feared. Appeals m were made to Iraq and the UAR. Baghdad alerted troops, announced they were being sent to the Syrian border and mobilized paratroopers. Cairo later published a «tetement threatening immediate intervention by UAR troops, By noon today neither country had sent troops. "Foreign" countries friendly to Khaled el Aaem had not acted on his behalf. By early afternoon it appeared the Syrian coup would have no immediate inter- national repercussions. Genl. Lovai el Atassi has been named Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Anny. He was earlier condemned to death for leading the 28 March 1962 uprising at Alep garrison, agitating for Syria's re-union with Egypt. His officers and soldiers in that movement had appealed to Nasser for paratroopers to be sent to Alep to reinforce the garrison movement against the Damascus separatist government. General Atassi escaped after the failure of the uprising and has been in hiding since that time. ALD/mn Unofficial Summary translation
AFP - 2? March 1963
DJEDAH
An official communiqufi from the headquarters of Emir Abdallah
Ben Hussein, transmitted by Radio Mecca, announced that an Egyptian military detachment had been ambushed between Sanaa and Fifane (Yemen) and resulted in 300 dead and 50 wounded. The 8oramuniqu4 added that the Egyptians also lost 50 prisoners, and 5 tanks, 20 armored cars and 60 trucks had been seized. ALD/mn
AFP - 27 February 1963
BEIRUT The problem of Yemen has reached a new stage. Until now the Republican forces of Yemen and the Egyptian troops declared that they were fighting infiltrations from Saudi Arabia and Jordan. As of yesterday, they are denouncing British aggression against Yemen.. Marechal Sallal, President of the Republic of Yemen, announced, via Radio-Sanaa, that he was sending a cable to the Secretary-General of the UW in protest of the attacks by British troops. He claimed tiat his country was the victim of aggression and could thus invoke the right of self-defense. He asked for UN intervention to stop British aggression. These attacks were, according to news from Cairo, in the form of bombings of the town of Habib, located 160 kilometres from Sanaa, in the South-East of Yemen, and approximately 30 kilometres from the border which separates the Emirat of Beihan and Yemen. The Emir of Beihan has long taken the position openly against the Republican regime of Marechal Sallal, South The Emirat is part of the Federation of 39^189^ Arabia, allied to the United Kingdom, and of which the territory and the city of Aden is a part. Great Britain has been given the responsibility of defense of the South • Federation of ^gsgggc Arabia. Thus the UK is a direct party in the Yemenite problem. On the British side, it is officially recognized that artillery bombardment was aimed at Yemenite forces which had invaded the territory of Beihan and which had refused to withdraw. This bombardment took place - 2 - after several warnings. These incidents were limited due to the fact that the Yemenite forces in question did not exceed 300 men . In Aden, there is no news of air attacks of the Yemenite territory by the Royal Air Force. However, Marechal Sallal sent a message to the Arab League, to the President of the Yemenite Delegation to the United Nations, and to the Presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly. /_ Message not translated^ The Secretary-General acted inmediately on the appeal from Marechal Sallal. Accordingly, Dr. Ralph Bunche was sent on a special mission to Sanaa, where he is expected on Thursday. He will also stop in Cairo and Riad, as these two countries are directly engaged in the Yemen war. Troops of the UAR which are engaged in Yemen are estimated at Iman sovereign. 20,000, and Saudi Arabia continues to recognize the Yemen asfflS? a& legitimate Xkst Iman Badr has succeeded in taking over the northern part of Yemen and tribes following the Royal cause are surrounding Sanaa in the noit)i,west and east. In a country without any comnunications system, the Egyptian forces, occupy inspite of their armaments, are in no position to/EankKH± the mountafcous region of the central part of Yemen. In the South-East, the territory between Sanaa and the border of South :g£XDd& Arabia and Aden is now in the hands of Iman Badr tribes, where they are under the theoretical command of the Prime Minister of Royal Yemen,
Emir Seif, El Islam and El Hassan (former Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations). They are divided into three groups under the command of Emir Abdallah, El Hassan and Mohamed El Mohsen. as well as the chief of the southern tribes, Ahmed El Sayari. - 3 -
In the North, Iman Badr maintains communication lines with the towns of Najrane and Jizane in Saudi Arabia. Through these lines he receives supplies, men, arms, ammunition and keeps in contact with the outside world. The northern front is completely independent of the eastern and southern fronts. South The latter are supported by the Federation of Sasejg-Arabia. The legend according to which the Republican Government of Yemen controls the whole territory of Yemen, which was admitted last December when the American Government officially recognized the Republic of Yemen in exchange for a promise to have the Egyptian forces evacuate Yemen, is no longer upheld. President Nasser hax sent to Sanaa, since the end of January,the two heads of his army — Marechal Abdel Nakim Amer and General Ali Ali Amer — in order to study the defense situation in Yemen. From well-informed sources, Marechal Amer has not yet left Sanaa, and subsequent to consultations with General Anquar El Kadi, has asked for considerable reinforcements of men, equipment and planes. It was mentioned that they wished to increase strength to 40,000 men. Such military efforts at more than 2,500 kilometres from the UAR would have toery grave consequences both from a political and financial point of view. President Nasser, however, seems to be trying to disengage himself from this expedition without compromising the Republican Regime of Yemen. Cairo envisages two possible lines of action: 1) To associate other Arab countries with the defense of the Republic of Yemen - thus Iraq has been asked directly to intervene; and 2) To create out of the Yemen war an international crisis requiring rapid intervention of the UN in support of the Republic of Yemen. It is believed that this was the aim of the operation which was started by an invasion of the territory of Beihan and the appeal of Marechal Sallal to the UN. SUMMARY TRANSLATION OF A DISPATCH SENT FROM BEIRUT (LEBANON) BY FRANCE PRESS AGENCY DATED 27 FEBRUARY 1963
The question of Yemen has just entered a new phase. Up to now the Yemenite Republican Forces and the Egyptian Expeditionary Corps stated openly that they were struggling against "infiltration originating in Saudi Arabia and Jordan". Yesterday San'a and Cairo denounced "the British aggression against Yemen". Last evening Marshall Sallal, President of the Republic of Yemen, had an announcement made by Radio San'a that "he was sending a cable to the Secretary-General of the United Nations protesting against attacks by British forces". He invoked the right of self-defence to meet the aggression against his country. Moreover, he requested the intervention of the United Nations to put an end to the British attacks. According to reports from Cairo,that aggression consisted in the bombing of the village of Habib, located at 160 kilometres from San'a, in the south-eastern part of Yemen, at about 30 kilometres from the unofficial border of the Emirate of Beihan. The Emir of Beihan had long ago openly taken a position against the Republican Regime of Marshall Sallal. His Emirate is part of the Federation of South Arabia allied to the United Kingdom which recently included the territory and the city of Aden. The United Kingdom is in charge of the defence of all independent territories which compose the Federation of Southern Arabia. As such, it is directly involved in the question of Yemen. On the British side, it is only acknowledged that a Yemen Republican Force which had trespassed on the territory of the Emirate of Beihan and had refused to return to the Yemen territory had been, after several warnings, subjected to artillery fire. The incident would have been relatively limited since the Yemenite force in question, which at the beginning was composed of 120 men, was inceease'd to 300. There is no available information in Aden of Royal Air Force planes flying over or bombing Yemeni territory. However, Marshall Sallal has sent to the Arab League, to the Chairman of the Yemenite Delegation to the United Nations, to the President of the Security Council, and to the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations the following Message: - 2 -
"British forces have entered the region of Habib which is part of Yemen. The operation includes armoured units. The British airplanes have dropped leaflets on the Yemenite forces requesting them to evacuate the village of Habib, failing which it will be bombed. The United Kingdom, thus, gives assistance to infiltrators coming from Saudi Arabia to help Iman Badr, who was overthrown. Later on, British planes have actually attacked our forces in the Yemenite region of Habib." Marshall Sallal's message added: "The attack that the United Kingdom has just perpetrated against the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen and its territory constitutes a threat to world peace and an obvious violation of the Charter of the United Nations." Marshall Sallal's appeal to the Arab League and to the United Nations was concluded with a request for immediate action "in order to put the British aggression to an end." Moreover, Marshall Sallal has indicated that "the Government of the Arab Republic of Yemen reserves its right to defend its sovereignty, the security of its territory and the lives of its citizens by all necessary means". The Secretary-General of the United Nations, U Thant, has taken immediate action following the appeal which had been sent to him by the Republican Government of Yemen. Dr. Ralph Bunche has been sent on special mission to San'a where he is expected to arrive on Thursday. He will also go to Cairo and Riad, capital of Saudi Arabia, both countries being directly involved in the Yemen war. An expeditionary corps of the UAR, which is composed of about 20,000 combat troops, is fighting in defence of the Yemenite Republic, while Saudi Arabia still recognizes Iman Badr as the legitimate sovereign of Yemen and gives him every assistance to defend his throne "against the usurpers". The charges involving the United Kingdom and the intervention of the United Nations take place at a time when the Republican .-.Government of Yemen, despite its official announcements, is in a particularly difficult situation. Iman Badr has successfully regained all the territory in the Northern part of Yemen and the tribes, loyal to him, are encircling San1a on the west, the north and the east. In a country deprived of any communications system, the Egyptian forces, despite their armaments, have shown their inability to ensure the control of the whole mountainous territory which constitutes the center of Yemen. 3 -
In the eastern part of the country the whole region between San'a and the Saudi frontier and the frontier of Aden is still controlled by tribes faithful to Iraan Badr. In that region those tribes are under the theoretic command of the Prime Minister of royalist Yemen, Emir Seif El Islam El Hassan (former permanent representative of Yemen to the United Nations). Actually they are divided ±HJbs in three groups placed under the command of Emirs Abdallah El Hassan, Mohamed El Mohsen and of the powerful chieftain of the southern tribes, Ahmed El Sayari, In the north of the country, Iman Badr maintains communications and supply lines with the Saudi cities of Wajrane and Jizane. His supplies in food, men, weapons and munitions come to him through this way and it is also through this way that he keeps contact with the outsidd world. This northern front is completely independent from the eastern and southern front which are related to the territories of the Federation of Southern Arabia. The fiction according to which the Republican Yemenite Government "controls the totality of the territory of Yemen" which was accepted in December at the time when the American Government recognized officially the Republic of Yemen in exchange for a promise of evacuation of the Egyptian Forces,is no longer defended today by anyone. Today Cairo denounced "the reactionary and imperialist intervention against the Republic of Yemen" and President Nasser, since 30 Janaury 1963, has sent to San'a the two leaders of his army: Marshall Abdel Hakim Amer and General Ali Ali Amer, in order to "study the defence of the frontiers of Yemen against infiltration". A Well-informed source has indicated that Marshall Amer, who has not left San'a and has constantly conferred with General Anouar El Kadi, Commander of the Expedi- tionary Egyptian Forces, has requested from Cairo considerable reinforcement in men, material and planes. The goal would be for Egypt to bring the strength of its forces involved in Yemen up to A-0,000 men. Such a military effort at a distance of more than 2,500 kilometres from the bases of the UAR would have politically as well as financially serious repercussions. President Nasser is trying, on the contrary, to disengage as much as he can from an adventure in the mountains of Yemen without, however, compromising the Government of Marshall Sallal and the Republican regime of Yemen, * • •• Unofficial translation AD/at
AFP - 6 March 1963
Beirut Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia made a statement yesterday in Damman in which he threatened to throw his country into war against the UAR. The anger of the Emir was provoked by the total inertia of the United Nations regarding repeated Egyptian air attacks against Saudi Arabian towns and airports. Yesterday, for the eighth time, a Saudi Arabian centre was bombed; this time the attack was on the town of Abha, 100 miles north of the Yemenite frontier and about 60 miles from the Red Sea. The communique carried by Radio Mecca announced that two Egyptian airplanes had dropped bombs on this town, setting fire to buildings of a hospital and making victims of its patients. The previous day a Saudi Arabian Govt. communique announced the double bombing of Dahran, a town on the route from Najrane oasis to Mecca. The Prince reaffirmed that the Saudi Arabian Govt. only want to guarantee to the Yemeni people independence, liberty, right t© self-determination without external interference "whether Arab of foreign"* He also stated that his Govt. had accepted a plan for solving the Yemeni problem which "involved the withdrawal of UAR forces, support of the Republicans, termination of Saudi Arabian aid in all forms to the loyalists and exercise by the Yemeni people of their right to self-determination under UKT control'.'. The Prince's speech was commented on today in all Arab countries,
where it was noted that the USA Dept. of State has once again asked its Cairo Ambassador, Dr. John Badeau, to intervene directly with Pres. Nasser; at present all USA steps in Cairo have had no results.
Said Jomaa, Jordan's Ambassador to the USA, informed his Foreign Minister that, according to instructions from Amman, he had approached UN Secretary- General U Thant on the retirement action regarding General C. von Horn, Chief Observer of the Palestine Armistice. He reported that the Secretary-General had told him "that the retirement of Genl. von Horn was justified since it was the Genl.'s own request, for reasons of health, and that it was in no way provoked by Israeli pressure to replace him. The SG also told the Jordanian Ambassador that he would not name the General's successor without consulting the interested parties. * 4 -
Two possibilities are now contemplated by Cairo. The first consists in associating other Arab countries in the defence of the Yemenite Republic, It is in this connexion that Iraq has been directly requested to intervene. The second is to inflate the war of the two Yemens into an international crisis requiring the rapid intervention of the United Nations in favour of Republican Yemen. It is thought that this is the aim of the operation launched 4& hours ago by an incursion into the territory of Beihan and Marshall Sallal's appeal to the United Nations, AFP - 6 March 1963
Paris King Hussein of Jordan favoured an agreement among his country, Irag and Syria, it was reported in an interview published Wednesday in "Le Monde". "The object of this agreement would be the elaboration of a common policy towards Israel, owing to the lack of action in this .sphere on the part of the UAH". "In Yemen itself the war is no longer - and has not been for some time the struggle between Republicans and Royalists; rather it is Yemenites versus Egyptians . Although President Nasser has turned against Emir Badr, after having 'offered Yemen on a silver platter", continued Hussein, "I am. not sure that Nasser might succeed again in Yemen . •. they have tried to impose on the Yemenites in four days a jump of four centuries". Unofficial summary translation of an AFP cable 17/VTI/63
Beyrouth (Lebanon)
From the newspaper "Al Zaman, Rafik Maalouf", "the Egyptian expedition in 2fiJ8gfi has now reached a stage when it is now more difficult to withdraw than to continue". In Cairo, many Egyptians are eager to see the end of a conflict of Moslems against Moslems. In religious circles, it is felt that there is a danger in a fight where Chiites are siding with their spiritual leader, the Imam, but against Sunnites coming from Egypt.
The war in Yemen has certain aspects of a religious struggle: some of the chiefs opposed to Sallas have been adversaries of the Imam Badr in the past, but now are afraid of reforms attaining their religious traditions. The withdrawal of Egyptian troops would be a blow to the revolutionary Government of Marshall Abdallah Salla^. Egypt is then condemned to maintain in Yemen an important army and to spend large financial resources there.
According to Emir Sultan Ben Abdel Aziz, brother of King Seoud, the Egyptian company in Yemen has not reached any of its purposes: "King Seoud's throne has not disappeared, Great Britain has not recognized the Yemen regime, Aden has not fallen into the hands of Egyptian troops ...." Egypt would want to end this campaign There have been secret talks between the royalists and the republicans to cease the hostilities. ll Ijl.lff ^Ef?fg SS^^fflll f itfti' if feii sf ilfis?• ?tff m t i^IifSIg
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:' ' if LA THE SPECTATOR, JULY 19. 1963
Whose Poison Gas? By Desmond Stewart
The Headlines of the Daily Telegraph on July 9 were categoric: 'Nasser's Planes Use Poison Gas.1 Then followed the dreary attempt to name Egypt's ruler (once the Hitler of the Nile) as the Mussolini of the Yemen. The site of the story fitted the cliches of atrocity-mongering as neatly as its locale a vampire film. The village of Al Kawma was conveniently 'perched atop a high rugged mountain of the unmapped part of Northern Yemen.' The intrepid correspondent approached the village late at night. 'From more than 100 yards away I could hear the coughing of the gassed villagers, which wait on ceaselessly.1 Clever Dr. Beeston was able to tell, at night, from a distance that these were gas coughs, not coughs from tuberculosis or from addiction to the royally sponsored qat. But he saw no corpses; he made no autopsies. He does not reveal who his escorts were. Yet the anglophone correspondent retails as facts a whole cycle of lurid deaths and ascribes them unequivocally to poison gas. His eyes were as definite as his ears. The bomb he was shown 'was obviously a complicated piece of machinery, probably beyond the engineering capabilities of the Egyptians.' Thus the transition to a new.- or, rather, an old - slur: the gas-war was being mounted by Russia. That this was part of the operation had confirmation in a new headline two days later: 'Russians Direct Loading of Canister Bombs.1 The evidence offered by Mr. Eric Downton, Mr. Beeston1 s colleague, were unnamed Western officials and •deserters from the Yemeni Republic forces.' The basic argument remained a priori: the complicated machinery was beyond Egyptian skill. Yet even the most cursory visitor to Middle Eastern cities over the last five years could have noticed more complex machinery, all made in Egypt: transistor radios, machine-tools and jet aeroplanes. The argument against this 'gas bomb1 being Egyptian-made is not a moralistic one. Gas is not worth stowing in canisters, wherever made. Gas has been discarded from arsenals, not because it is immoral, but because it is ineffective. The 'good' it could do would be outweighed by the propaganda defamation that would, follow. In belittling the Daily Telegraph's headlining of this story one does not wish to belittle whatever ailments have befallen Yemeni villagers, from whatever sources. The Telegraph is right for the wrong reasons in recommending medical aid to the Yemen, Not only these unmapped villages, but considerable Yemeni towns had no medical assistance under the deposed Imamate. Whatever public services exist in Yemen now have been brought by the UAR forces. More medicines would be welcome. Faced, however, with the conscious selection of one puny, alleged result of Egyptian intervention and its exaggeration into something uniquely evil, one would like to ask whoever plans the Telegraph's policies: do napalm bombs burn less than the 'evil majic1 in Mr. Beeston's picturesque story? Did the Telegraph ally itself with Dr. Edith Summerskill in her indignation at the thousand or more casualties from British bombing in Port Said? At the risk of being repetitive, one must restate what the crisis in this remote part of Arabia is about. Yemen was once the site of a prosperous civilisation. To Arabs, the country has a particular importance because it was from there that so much Arab culture derived. It is the Sheba from which the Queen came. But for the last millennium Yemen has slowly become a barbaric slum. It has been as cut off as Tibet, but without the Tibetan gentleness and peace. Potentially a Red Sea Lebanon, its crops have dwindled and its people become stunted and sick. The late T™a.m was a sadist, worthy of Suetonius, a reactionary beside whom the Neapolitan Bourbons were progressives. In fifteen years I have not met one Arab with a good word to say for the dynasty of Hamid al-Din. Indeed, the only human being I know who supported it was a hospitable Californian eccentric called Bruce de Bourbon Conde1. Mr. Cond^ burned his American passport and was re-issued with Yemeni documents under the name of Abdul Rahman Kundah. Dressed in Yemeni robes, he once visited the Lebanon on a speech-making tour. His object? To attack British imperialism in 'South Yemen' (i.e., Aden) and to complain about British bombing of Yemeni villages and schools. But even Abdul Rahman had to flee for his life - to Egypt, of all places - when the Imam returned from one of his European jaunts. Lieut.-Colonel Conde" (as the Daily Mail called him on July 9) was forced to take British-protected nationality as a citizen of Sharja. As such he is now one of the principal advocates, along with Israel and the Daily Telegraph, for a return to Mutawakkalite rule. For Britain the whole issue is tragic, and important. Even the Saudis have stopped giving overt assistance to the Yemeni Imam. America, with great wisdom, is showing that the West, as well as Russia, can support impoverished but aspiring peoples. Is the country which in the nineteenth century supported the liberals of Europe to spend the rest of the twentieth century regretting the Bourbons? Yemen is a small, distant and picturesque country. But even there most people want schools, clinics, roads and cinemas, if they are allowed to know what these things are. Ignorant tribesmen can, with bribes, be kept in a state of sedition1 against the republican government for many years to come. But is this a worthwhile goal for British statesmanship? British recognition of the Yemeni Arab Republic now would put an end to unnecessary bloodshed and strife. It would also be a timely boost to the reputation of the British Government. AFP/29/VII/1963
Alexandria, 29 July 1963
"You have already 'wasted a year at war. You must now increase efforts to reconstruct and to improve your country", stated President Wasser yesterday, addressing the delegation of heads of Yemenite tribes, called to attend the celebrations of the eleventh anniversary of the Egyptian revolution. "We always will stand at your sides, in the interest of your children and so that they have all that you were deprived of", affirmed the head of the UAR. "Marshall Ardel Hakim Amer is a good lawyer who defends your rights. He has asked me to send you tractors and pumps and we will do so. But what we want is that you will be grouped in national unity to develop your country." And, President Nasser emphasized in a reproaching tone: "I hear that you cut the coffee trees to grow the kif (shrubs from which the leaves give a sort of drug). How, in producing so much coffee, haven't you come to exporting it? You could also grow cotton and later have spinning-mills." And, repeating his promises to help Yemen, President Nasser nevertheless added: "I am amazed that you bought everything you needed from Aden. You must make double efforts to draw out all the possible resources of your country." UNITE ID™ N A T I 0 H S Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, K.Y. USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -.- NOT JOS OFFICIAL RECORD)
Biographical Note Press Release BIO/228 27 August 1965
CARL CARLSSON VON HORN (Sweden)
Major General von Horn was "born 15 July 1903- He has been an officer in the Swedish Army since 1923. He was commissioned Captain in the General Staff Corps in 1935? reached the rank of full Colonel in 1950, and was promoted to Major General in 1958. In the course of his military career, General von Horn has held a number of responsible administrative appointments, including that of Military Director of the Swedish Railways, 19^2-19^5., and Director of Movements and Transportation, 19^5- 19V7. General von Horn also served as Executive Assistant to Count Fol&e Bernadotte on the repatriation of prisoners of war, in 19^3-19^5« In 19*1-7 ne uas assigned liaison duties with the British Army on the Rhine and the United States forces in Germany. He served as Military Attache to Norway and Denmark from 19*1-7-19^9• On 3 March 1958> General von Horn was appointed Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UNTSO), and on 1 August 1960 he became Force Commander of the United Nations Operation in the Congo (OMJC). On 1 February 1961 General von Horn resumed his duties as Chief of Staff of UNTSO, He remained in that post until 2 June 19^3^ when he became Commander of the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission.
« iAV ATV VI UNITE DV^ NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — HOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/1579 10 September 196?
SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LT.-GEN. GYANI AS COMMANDER OF UMYOM
The Secretary-General has assigned Lieutenant-General P.S. Gyani to the post of Commander of the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission (UNYOM), and to serve in this capacity until 4 November 19^3* General Gyani, during this period, will be on leave from his position of Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNBF). The Secretary-General has conveyed his great appreciation to Colonel Branko Pavlovic for his fine service as Acting Commander and has asked him to remain with the Yemen Mission in the position of Deputy Commander. Colonel Pavlovic served under General Gyani in UNEF before going to Yemen.
##* * V UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N,Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Biographical Note Press Release BIO/230 10 September 1965
LISUTBNAMT GENERAL P. S. GYANI
Lt.-Gen. P.S. Gyani, Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), •was born on 17 July 1910 in India. He attended the Imperial Defence College in the United Kingdom and was commissioned on 27 August 1951 • He graduated from the Staff College, Quetta, India, and saw active service on the Burma front in World War II, from February 19^2 to August He has held the following appointments in the Indian Army: Commander, Second Infantry Field Regiment, November 19^ to June Brigadier Commandant, School of Artillery; October 19*J-7 to December Director of Artillery, Army Headquarters, December 19^7 to December 1950; Commander, 7th Infantry Brigade, February 1952 to July 1953; Commander, iSlst Independent Brigade Group, August 1953 to August 195^; International Commission for Supervision and Control in Indo-China, with the rank of Major-General, from August 195^ to April 1955; Commandant, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, from April 1955 to March 1959* Director of Artillery, Army Headquarters, from March 1959 to June 1959; and General Officer, Commanding Fourth Infantry Division, from June 1959 to December 1959« He was appointed Commander of UNEF in December 1959*
M _*f ML 'A A A UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y.
(FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- HOT AH OFFICIAL R3COKD)
Press Release EMF/395 YOM/2 12 September 1963
LT.-GEN. GYANI LEAVES GAZA FOR YEMEN Colonel Condil to Serve as Acting Commander of UHEF
Lieutenant-General P.S. Gyani, Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), left Gaza by air today for Sana, the capital of Yemen, to take up his new assignment as Commander of the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission (UNYOM). General Gyani's assignment to UNYOM was announced by the Secretary-General on 10 September (see Press Release SG/1579). Colonel E.C. Condil of Denmark, UNEF Chief of Staff, will serve as Acting Germander of UHEF during General 'Gyani's absence from the Force. Colonel Condil, who is lf-9, was Chief of Staff of the Brigade Group in Denmark before joining UNEF in March. 1962. He is on a two-year assignment with UHEF.
* *** # F flP** W BW3VC 1* 22i«* PI/WMI * Ef&f '
LONDON (ENGLAND) * 557 DAILY TELEGRAPH Of 15 OCTOBER CONTAINS ASSJJRB AND TOTALLY I4ISLEADING ARTICLE ALLEGING THAT 08ft FAISAL HAS APPLIED TO SECGEN FOR PEftMlSSlON TO KOVE MEDICAL STORES INTO SOYALIST-H£LD a->s& TERRITORY IW V*HBI AND HA? RECEIVED NO REPLY Fit ONE MM*. ASTICLE CONCLUDES WITH CHARACTERISTIC SANCTIKOHIOUS OUTBURST
m * • Uttftfti*. *W dtM*» PSIK? $8f IK StffftttJE f*KM f® CHftB O DAILY TELEGRAPH THE FACTS OF fHI SITUATION, WHICH ARE AS F®li0St COLON (1) UK MISSION lit 1%£SH< IS A VERY SMALL ONE, ¥HQS£ FUNCTIONS, LAIS DOWN BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL, AR£ EXCLUSIVELY THE * M * • . * OBSERVATION OF IMPLEMENTATION, OR NONlMPLEtCNTATION, Of DISENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT A«D REPORTING THEREON TO 3ECGEN. tiff 13 NOT A PASTY TO THE DISENGAGEHEHT AGREEMENT AND HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER IT. C2) UN HAS NO JUfllSDIGTION WHATSOEVER OVER MOVEMENT CF HUi^NITASIAN BY INTEHNATIONAL RED CROSS ACROSS FRONTIERS *
m THIS §1 ANY OTHER AREA OF THE WORLD, ALTHOUGH UN TRADITIONALLY COOPERATES WITH INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND GIVES IT ASSISTANCE WHERE POSSIBLE. UN, HAVING NO AUTHORITY IK YEMEN, CANNOT CLEAR ANYTHING ft! ENTRY INTO YEMEN, tt) EMIH FAISAL HAS NEVER APPLIED it. m »
SECGEN fOS PERMISSION TO MOVE fflmMM* STORES INTO ROYALI3T-HEL9 • ' TERRITORY. THIS MATTES MS BEEN RAISED BY ICHC, WHICH ITSELF ' '•' , IS TRYING TO OBTAIN NECESSARY AUTHOHIZATIGN FROK SAUDI ARABIAN GOVEaWRENT TO MOVE KSDICAL SUPPLIES. SUCH HOVEKEWT SOULD, .':: ' ft$ IS NO«HAL, BE WARRANTED BY 3ICOGNI2ED INTERNATIONAL IRimHIflilllN *
STATUS 0? ICRC, BUT IS A MATTER FOR THE CQVERNHENT3 CONCERNED AND IS ONE OVER WHICH UN HAS NO AUTKOSITY. OU8 INFORMATION FROM RED CROSS IS THAT OBSTACLE LIES IW FAILURE OF SAUDI ARABIAN COVESNHEKT ft GIVE NECESSARY AUTHORIZATION TO REB GROSS. -4 ^ ':; 7*Tt (•J"i*' at* IS 8SIB& * P, S 5 'JH*> 'f'X '• * ^ ^ ^L -,.-. „, -c* O> It - «m)iifKttiii ansniMr ntsKt w nu «nc m mttiML '3 -3 3 ^,5- ^i^i _^J^ ASSISTANCE TO ICRC WHICH If VITHIH ITS KEANS. UN HAVE BEEN IN ^ -^ $ *
i~> ---".iv j .run Til THIS ARTICLE, TYPICALLY MASQUERADING UNBEH A BANNER OF HUMANITAHIAN : INDIGNATION, IS DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE TO THE TRU£ SITUATION * BUNCHE NEWYGRK -»- $®k $!? If ^ RS>S. NIGHTLEAD NASSER (SCHEDULED) ADEN, APRIL 2k (REUTERS)-EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT GAMAL ABDEL NASSER TODAY RENEWED HIS CALL IN THE YEMEN FOR THE BRITISH TO EVACUATE ALL ARAB SOIL. "IT IS OUR DUTY TO HELP OUR BROTHERS FIGHTING BRITISH COLONIALISM AND THOSE WHO SUFFER OPPRESSION IN THE PRISONS OF BRITISH COLONIALISM," NASSER TOLD A MASS RALLY AT SANAA, YEMEN, EARLY TODAY. "WE REMEMBER OUR BROTHERS IN THE OCCUPIED SOUTH (ADEN AND THE PROTECTORATES) WHO ARE EXPOSED TO THE HARSHEST FORM OF TYRANNY AND OPPRESSION UNDER BRITISH COLONIALISM," SAID NASSER, WHO ARRIVED IN YEMEN YESTERDAY ON A SURPRISE VISIT. "IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC AND .THE YEMEN, I SAY WE ARE WITH YOU WITH OUR BLOOD, HEARTS AND SOULS." NASSERSAID BRITAIN MUST LEAVE ARAB SOIL BECAUSE ARAB LAND BELONGED TO THE ARABS. NASSER, ACCOMPANIED BY YEMENI PRESIDENT ABDULLAK AL SALLAL, DROVE IN AN OPEN CAR INTO THE SQUARE WHICH WAS CROWDED WITH TRIBESMEN, STUDENTS AND CONTINGENTS OF YEMENI ARMY TROOPS AND EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS STATIONED IN THE YEMEN. SALLAL CALLED ON THE YEMENIS TO ACCORD THEIR "EGYPTIAN BROTHERS" THE UTMOST HONOR, PARTICULARLY THE "GREAT LEADER, GAMAL NASE WITH WHOSE SUPPORT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE VICTORIES ON 40 FRONTS AGAINST REACTION AND COLONIALISM." (MORE) JS l.UP R99 FIRST ADD ADEN NIGHTLEAD NASSER XXX COLONIALISM." SALLALSAID EGYPT GUARDED THE YEMEN REPUBLIC AND THE REVOLUTION AND SAID J "OH, GAMAL, WE WILL FOLLOW ALONG YOUR STRAIGHT PATH TOWARD COMPLETE ARAB UNITY AND WILL STAND BY YOU ON ALL FRONTS AGAINST THE BRITISH AND COLONIALISM." THE TWO PRESIDENTS ALSO REVIEWED YEMENI AND EGYPTIAN TROOPS AND THEN DROVE TO A MOSQUE FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS. LAST NIGHT, NASSER TOLD A CROWD AT SANAA BRITAIN MUST "TAKE UP ITS STAFF AND LEAVE ADEN." IN A BROADCAST SPEECH, HE SAIDs ."WE SWEAR BY GOD TO EXPELL BRITAIN FROM ALL PARTS OF THE ARAB WORLD." USUALLY RELIABLE OBSERVERS SAID NASSER'S VISIT TO YEMEN WAS MAINLY TO HAVE A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE l^-MONTH-OLD WAR BETWEEN YEMENI REPUBLICAN AND EGYPTIAN TROOPS AND FOLLOWERS OF THE DEPOSED YEMENI IMAM (KING), JS 1.43P & R115. ^ NASSER - ATTENTION LONDON, APRIL 24, (REUTERS) - THE BRITISH GOVERN- MENT HAS DRAWN THE TERMS OF A SPEECH MADE BY PRESIDENT GAMEL ABDEL NASSER OF EGYPT AT SANAA, THE YEMEN, YESTERDAY TO THE ATTENTION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL U THANT. THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE SAID HERE TONIGHT. THE FOREIGN OFFICE SAID THAT IN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S VIEW THIS SPEECH "MUST MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE SECRETARY- GENERAL TO CARRY OUT HIS TASK OF USING HIS GOOD OFFICES TO TRY TO SETTLE OUTSTANDING ISSUES BETWEEN THE YEMEN AND THE FEDERATION OF SOUTH ARABIA." (PRESIDENT NASSER WAS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD A CROWD OF THOUSANDS IN A BROADCAST SPEECH YESTERDAY " WE SWEAR BY GOD TO EXPEL BRITAIN FROM ALL PARTS OF THE ARAB WORLD." (HE WAS THEN REPORTED TO HAVE ADDED " WE SHED BLOOD, AND SACRIFICED SOULS AND WERE VICTORIOUS. WE SHALL SHED BLOOD AND SACRIFICE SOULS AND WE SHALL BE VICTORIOUS AS WE WERE IN EGYPT AND IN THE YEMEN). MBO. 2:51 / R171
URGENT
NI3HTLEAD NASSER
ADEN, APRIL 23 (REUTERS)-PRESIDENT GAMEL ABDEL
NASSER, OF EGYPT, WHO ARRIVED IN THE YEMEN ON A SURPRISE
VISIT TODAY, TOLD A CROWD OF THOUSANDS IN A BROADCAST SPEECH
TONIGHT "WE SWEAR BY GOD TO EXPEL BRITAIN FROM ALL PARTS
OF THE ARAB WORLD." (MORE) GEHC 3:43P
t t f f f R172 FIRST ADD ADEN NIGHTLEAD NASSER XXX WORLD." NASSER'S ARRIVAL IN THE YEMENI CAPITAL WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER TODAY BY SANAA RADIO. USUALLY RELIABLE SOURCES SAID HIS VISIT WAS FOR A FIRST HAND STUDY OF THE 19-MONTH-OLD WAR BETWEEN EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS AND FOLLOWERS OF THE DEPOSED YEMENI IMAM. "WE SHE'D BLOOD AND SACRIFICED SOULS AND WERE VICTORIOUS. WE SHALL SHED BLOOD AND SACRIFICE SOULS AND WE SHALL BE VICTORIOUS AS WE WERE IN EGYPT AND IN THE YEMEN," NASSER SAID. A TUMULT OUS CROWD, STATED TO NUMBER THOUSANDS, ON SANAA'S "LIBERATION SQUARE," CALLED TO NASSER BY HIS FIRST NAME IN SHOUTS OF "LIBERATE ADEN, OH JAMAL" AS HE-ARRIVED WITH YEMENI' PRESIDENT ABDULLAH AL SALLAL. -(MORE)- GRB 4:05P SECOND ADD ADEN NIGHTLEAD NASSER CR172) XXX SALLAL. NASSER, REFERRING TO THE "OCCUPIED SOUTH" (ADEN AND THE NEIGHBORING BRITISH PROTECTORATES) AMD "BRITISH AGGRESSION" ON YEMENI TERRITORY, SAID? ' ' "BRITAIN, WHICH LOOKS UPON YOUR REVOLUTION WITH HATRED) AND DISGUST, MUST TAKE UP ITS STAFF AMD LEAVE ADEN AND // THE SOUTH." THE ARAB LEADER ALSO DECLARED: "WE SWEAR BY GOD WE WILL CONFRONT ZIONISM, STOOGE OF IMPERIALISM." SALLAL, WHO REFERRED TO NASSER AS "THE GREATEST MAN IN THE WORLD," THANKED EGYPT FOR ITS SUPPORT TO THE YEMENI REVOLUTION. FOR MONTHS THE UNITED NATIONS HAS BEEN TRYING TO DISENGAGE THOUSANDS OF EGYPTIAN TROOPS IN THE-YEMEN TO EASE A SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND THEIR ROYALIST' OPPONENTS, WHO ARE BACKED BY NEIGHBORING SAUDI ARABIA, THE YEMENI SOURCES IN ADEN SAID. (IN CAIRO SOME POLITICAL OBSERVERS SPECULATED THAT NASSER'S VISIT MIGHT BE CONNECTED WITH THE FORTHCOMING VISIT OF CROWN PRINCE FAISAL, THE SAUDI ARABIAN GOVERNMENT CHIEF, TO CAIRO.) GRB 4'. UP 11 May 1964
NOTES OU YEMEN DELEGATION PRESS CONFERENCE
Mohsin A. Alaini, Permanent Representative of Yemen, met with corres- pondents at 12:30 p.m. today and distributed the attached statement. He did not read out the text. In reply to questions, he said that: ~ The Afro-Asian Group decided on Friday to send a delegation of eight to meet with the Secretary-General on the subject of "the struggle of the peo- ple of occupied South Yemen against the British." The eight are the represen- tatives of Indonesia, Ghana, Mali, Kenya, Guinea, Kuwait, the U.A.R. and Tur- key, the last being the current chairman of the Group. They are to see the Secretary-General at 3*30 p.m. today. — There is no intention at the moment to press for a Security Council meeting on this question, ffltaa Yemen hoped that the United Kingdom would imple- ment the resolutions of the U.N., including those adopted by the Committee of 24. 'However, the zpramh possibility of asking for a Council meeting would depend on developments and circumstances. -- The U.A.R. troops now in Yemen are there at the request of Yemen under a self-defense agreement. He did not know exactly how many U.A.R. troops were there. They were not playing any part in the incidents in the south. Asked if the two nations intended to join, he njmniiiiminim quoted President Nasser as having said itiam that there was no intention of doing so at this time. Asked about the disengagement agreement, he said that this was another issue. Yemen was an in- dependent country, with a miiitotogm right to ask for aid from any other country. It maam was "surrounded by hostility" and could not be "disarmed and exposed to danger." In leihan, he said, hundreds of people were being trained and tvere smuggling arms to be used against the Republic. Asked about the strength of the royalists, he said it was much less than the outside press stated. He had been in Yemen himself only last month and knew that for certain. "If neighboring coun- tries stop interfering in our affairs," the royalists would be no problem. Asked if 4riaa& there was any evidence that South Arabia supported the British position on Aden, he said that no Arab country mnnaMim would do so. — Asked if Yemen would agree to the suggestion that U.W. observers be sent to the border, he replied, "Bhat border?" Yemen, he said, opposed the idea, as it did not recognize any border in the south. All was Yemeni territory up to, but not including Oman. Therefrmirftmmmi hha d never been any agreement with the British regarding a border in the south, only an agreement to observe the status quo, and the British, he said, had violated the agreement and had not respected the status quo. — Asked if it could be said that there would be no disengagement until Yemen k so decided, he replied that Yemen was a sovereign country. Statement by Ambassador Mohsin A. Alaini, Permanent Representative of the Yemen Arab Republic to the United I\Tations, 11 May, 1964
In 1G38, Britain, by the force of arms, occupied Aden .. .^^^ and since then gradually expanded its control over the Yemeni territory, aided by the weakness of the then Ottoman Government.
Since the first world war, when the Yemenis controlled their country, the Yemenis have never ceased their demand to Dritain to leave Aden and evacuate their occupied territory. Consequently the Yemen was always
(and indeed still is) subjected to Dritish savage military attacks. But in all the talks, contacts, agreements and treaties which were conducted or concluded,
Britain was never able to receive from Yemen a recognition of the cessation of these occupied provinces. The most that Dritain was ever able to get from such negotations which were conducted under British terrorism v/as the maintenance of the Status Quo, but never the recognition of any kind of balkanization or of borders between the occupied and independent zones.
To all international conferences and organisations the United Nations, since 1947 when the Yemen became a members state, in 1955 at die Bandung Conference, at the Afro-Asian solidarity conference, - 2 -
and in the Arab League, the Yemen brought its question and continued to hold its right.
Aden, and the so-called Protectorates are a national and integral part of the Yemen, Thus it was since the beginning of recorded history.
Today, and inspite of 125 years of British occupation, this truth still stands as pure and as mighty as ever. This truth was upheld by all the Yemeni
Governments, even those reactionnary cms whom Britain used to protect against popular resentments and revolts. If the problem appears lately to become more inflammatory, it is only because Britain made certain plans and took certain steps with a view to strengthening its grip and perpetuate its presence in the region.
In Aden Britain built refineries when its Abadan refineries were threatened, enlarged its military base when it was obliged to leave Kenya,
Cyprus and Iraq, and enlarged its naval base when it was obliged to evacuate
Suez and with every new kick she received from other territories
Britain tightened its grip on our occupied South Yemen.
Britain also made another unfortunate step in the political direction when she created what she calls "The Federation of South Arabia" when she felt that the Ancient E.egime of the reactionary Imamate, which was •*• unable to lack her out of Yemen, was breathing her last breaths. The creation - 3 -
of this so-called "Federation of South Arabia" is in violation of the Status Quo of 1934. The problem of the British occupation became more critical with the outbreak of the Yemen Revolution on 26 September, 1962.
After the Yemen Revolution, Britain was content with the withholding of her recognition to the Yemen Arab Republic, hoping that the resistance and opposition which the 3.epublic envisaged from the other direction were able to destroy it.
When this hope appeared to be a aaere mirage, Britain did not hesitate to enter into the battlefield openly and unashamedly against the Yemen Arab
Republic. She launched her air attack against Harib, and officially announced that she had taken such a very human and very heroic action. Britain thought, perhaps, that the aggression by itself would not be enough to terrorize and intimidate the Yemen, and mat the insistence on following one aggression after another and the official confession of it are complimentary acts, appropriate to the greatness of "Great "Britain".
The Security Council, however, was not impressed by such typical
British heroism. But inspite of the Security Council's resolution, condemning
Britain's aggression, her war planes are still violating the Yemen Arab
R-epublic airspace almost every day, flying in a very low manner (i.e. altitude) over the roofs of houses of peaceful Yemeni citizens in Harib, Qatabah,
Alhojareyah and other areas of the Yemen Arab S-epublic. Besides these show-of-muscle acts, Britain has been training mercenary elements, "hostile to the Revolution, equipping them with arms, ammunition and money, and smuggling them into the Yemen Arab Republic, and still even contending before the United Nations and before the world public opinion, that she is only discharging her international obligations, defending what she calls Federation of what she calls South Arabia
This false "Federation" was creat ed by Britain with the collaboration of a number of mercenary Sultans and stooges. The Sultans who opposed it were desposed of, and the areas which resisted it were bombarded and rocketed. It is only an artificial, poor mask behind which Britain has lately found it convenient to hide her not-so-beautiful face, and cover .hernot-so- handsome acts. A handful of feudal, corrupted mercenary Sultans are all her asset in this "Federation". The people have made their opposition known with all the means at their disposal. The labor organizations and popular movements have sent their representatives to the United Nations, where their opinion, on the so-called "Federation" has been heard clear and loud. The fact-finding committee emitting from the Special Committee of 24, to which the British impudently denied admittance to Aden, v/as convinced that the over- whelming majority of the people are against this British-made federation.
The Special Committee incorporated these findings and its recommendations in its report to the 18th General Assembly session, where they were adopted and where the "Federation" was condernnded. - 5 -
Britain must implement the United Nations Resolutions. These resolutions are clear in expressing that the Dritish military base in Aden is a threat to the peace and security of the region, as they are clear in expressing the necessity of the evacuation of the British forces and in asserting the people's right to self-determination.
Last week ;propagated a story about two Dritish soldiers who allegedly were decapitated in the Yemen Arab llepublic. This story came first in a statement made by the British Commander of the Middle East Land Forces,
Major-General Cubbon. As a result of thi s lie the Yemen Arab Republic was subjected to attacks and campaigns of propaganda against the Yemen / rab
Republic until the United States Embassy in Taiz asserted that Major -General
Cubbon1 s story was untrue.The British Maj or -General's answer to that was:
"I can only add:that the initial report received by me came from usually reliable sources". The creation of stories and invention of pretexts for army massings, and for aggression, I can assure the British, help in shortening the life of the British presence in our country.
The ignoring of the realities in the region, the withholding of the recognition to the Yemen Arab P_epublic, and the use of all the means of barbarism and terrorism will not shake the freedom fighters position, nor will it alter the stand of the Yemen Arab Republic. The waging of savage wars will not help the British. - 6
For her own interest, Britain must reconsider, re-examine and re-shape its methods and policies. 7/arfare and terrorism vail never hinder our people in their struggle to obtain their rights in freedom and dignity.