UNITED STATES DELEGATION TO THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
November 14, 1952 (Typed November 15, 1952)
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT: Secretary Acheson's Conversations with Foreign Ministers of the NEA Area Attending the Seventh General Assembly of the United Nations
PARTICIPANTS: Prince Saif-El Islam Abdullah, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Yemen Mr. Abou-Taleb, Charge d'Affaires of Yemen Delegation to UN Mr. Adnan Tarcici, Adviser in Yemen Foreign Ministry
The Secretary Assistant Secretary Byroade, NEA Mr. Edwin Plitt, U.S. Delegation
Following the customary exchange of courtesies and reciprocal inquiries about the health of the King of Yemen and the President, the Minister said that he was most appreciative of the opportunity afforded him to see the Secretary and hoped that the latter might some day visit his country. Mr. Acheson replied that he would like to do so particularly as he had heard the Yemen described as a garden country at the end of the desert. While the Minister agreed that the Yemen was a fertile land, he said that it nevertheless required much to make it into a garden spot - some outside help as the country itself had few resources of its own and is not wealthy.
Sayed Abou-Taleb, who did most of the translating from the Arabic, mentioned in the course of the conversation, that His Royal Highness had only the night before returned
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from a local hospital where he had spent several days undergoing a physical check-up. He said, in answer to a question placed by the Secretary, that his Minister seemed in good physical condition even though the result of the examination had not yet been received by them. The Minister then praised the medical knowledge and hospital facilities available here of which he wanted to take advantage while in New York.
Following an inquiry from the Secretary about the Minister's work in the UN, the latter replied that he found it somewhat fatiguing principally because of having to listen to so many long speeches. He thought that it would be better to get on with the work and accomplish the purpose for which the UN had been established. In this connection the Minister took the opportunity to mention two major problems before the Assembly viz. Tunisia and the Arab refugees. Both, he emphasized, would have to be solved to procure tranquility in North Africa and the Middle East, and before a better understanding between the Arabs and the West could be achieved. Friendship between them exists but closer coordination of mutual interests is not only desirable but necessary to keep the Arab world oriented to the West - wherein its hopes and aspirations for the future lie. He extolled the contribution the United States was making toward equitable solutions of the problems he had mentioned and hoped that we would continue to work effectively in that direction. The Secretary explained the difficulties facing the United States to satisfy every one and particularly when a controversy had arisen between two friends of the United States such as France and the North African countries. The Minister replied that the situation was fully understood by the Arabs and he hoped appreciated by both of the contestants but that above all the Arab world was looking toward the United States for the exercise of wise statesmanship.
These remarks led to the reaffirmation of Yemen friendship for the United States to which the Secretary made a suitable response, after which the Foreign Minister took leave, and again invited both the Secretary and Mr. Byroade to come to see Yemen for themselves and be their guests. Mr. Byroade praised Abou-Taleb as the Yemen Charge d'Affaires in Washington.
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