Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XX, Congo Crisis

156. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rusk, at Paris¹

Washington, December 12, 1961, 9:27 p.m.

Tosec 35. In full review Congo situation with President² following viewpoints developed and actions projected:

1. Information from UN NY indicates UN military objectives in fact more limited than cease-fire terms summarized in USUN’s 2060 (256 to Paris).³ UN intends establish position of strength in Elisabethville, but attempt to put UN troops into Jadotville and Kolwezi is not part of current military plan. UN NY indicates major operation Elisabethville will start as soon as local commanders feel re-enforcements are adequate to do the job “painlessly with little loss of life”. This will probably be before end of this week.

2. President reconfirmed US policy to go ahead on present lines, supporting UN in achievement its limited military objective. We want to push for Adoula –Tshombe talks, but agree with UN that cease-fire should not precede actual beginning of talks since important maximize Tshombe’s incentive to talk in good faith.

Wire service reports of alleged US-UK-French cease-fire call promptly shot down here.

3. British and Belgians have drafted a possible basis of negotiations between Adoula and Tshombe (Brussels 1024; repeated USUN 288).⁴ Its main feature is emphasis on advance agreement to scrap Loi Fondamentale in favor looser federal or confederal structure. Its main omission seems to be any reference to fact Adoula is head of national government. We are asking Gullion to consider (with Bunche who is now in Léopoldville) what minimal changes could be made in Belgian-British draft to make it acceptable to Adoula and Tshombe as basis negotiations.

4. Continuing contact with Admiral Kirk of Union Miniere (by Stevenson re-enforced by telephone call Bundy-Kirk) indicates Union Miniere really trying get Tshombe turned toward negotiations. Stevenson reports Dean (UK) in response hourly urgings on telephone from London, very anxious for US and UK make joint suggestion to U Thant for some kind of cease-fire arrangement. Stevenson has taken line that cease-fire not possible until Tshombe brought to water and drinking.

5. We prepared to facilitate Adoula-Tshombe meeting in every possible way, including assistance in protection to extent that is possible. We are convinced that way can be found assure Tshombe’s security on an airfield or a ship. Pervasive misunderstanding of rationale for USG support of UN Katanga operation, combined with static from Europe, will require us give more attention to briefing press here. Ball holding press briefing with prepared statement ten-thirty December thirteenth.⁵

7. Recommend you make general lines of this cable especially paragraph 2 clear to British, French and Belgians.

Ball

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/12–1261. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Cleveland, cleared by Vance and in substance by Miller, and approved by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs McGhee. Repeated to USUN for Stevenson and to London, Brussels, and Léopoldville.
2. No other record of the discussion has been found.
3. See footnote 2, Document 155.
4. Telegram 1024 from Brussels, December 7, transmitted the text of a Belgian-U.K. memorandum. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/12–761)
5. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, January 1, 1962, pp. 12–13; extracts are printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, pp. 862–863.