U.S. Critical Of British Attack

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 13

U.S. Critical Of British Attack

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, April 1.

American officials have expressed strong criticism to British representatives in Washington of the Royal Air Force attack on a Yemeni fort last Saturday, the “Daily Telegraph” reported.

The American view, said the officials, was that the attack, made by eight R.A.F. fighter planes, was not helpful in solving the Yemeni problems. Also, it complicated other Middle East problems such as the future of American bases in Libya. The report, prepared by the “Daily Telegraph” diplomatic staff, said it was emphasised in London that the criticism had been voiced only at ordinary day-to-day contact level among officials in Washington. The United States Secretary of State (Mr Dean Rusk) had not personally intervened.

Yemeni Raids

The British answer, said the “Daily Telegraph” was that concern might also be shown over Yemeni raids against the Aden Protectorate. It was pointed out that these had been frequent. They had placed a great strain on British ground and air forces supporting South Arabian units.

The R.A.F. attack was made on a fort near Harib just across the border from the State of Beihan, part of the South Arabian Federation. It was in retaliation for a Yemeni air attack on Beihan.

The Yemen today made a verbal request for a Security Council meeting to consider charges of British “aggression,” a spokesman for the president of the council, Mr Liu Chieh, of China, said. But action on the request would be shelved until tomorrow

when Professor Jiri Hajek of Czechoslovakia takes over the presidency for April. A formal request for a council session has to be in written form and a Yemeni spokesman said his delegation would “definitely” make a bid tomorrow for council action. Earlier today Britain said that the Yemen violated the airspace of the South Arabian Federation on the day that the British planes attacked the fort. “Early Planning” In a letter to the president of the Security Council, the chief British delegate. Sir Patrick Dean, said the timing of the sortie indicated it must have been planned by the Yemeni military authorities before the British attack. Mr Yahya Geghamn, deputy resident representative of Yemen, speaking to reporters after a 30-minute “general discussion” with U Thant, United Nations Secretary - General, said the British attack on the fort was “only the culmination of a series of attacks” against the Yemen.