53. Editorial Note
Consul William C. Canup reported in telegram 655 from Elisabethville, March 27, that he had been informed by a newspaper correspondent that Seven Seas Airlines was transporting arms to Katangan forces in north Katanga. (Department of State, Central Files, 470G.118/3–2761) He reported in telegram 660, March 28, “Seven Seas Airlines involvement in transport of munitions to Katangan forces advancing on Manono has become serious concern here and may shortly become public knowledge.” U.N. representative Dumontet had told Canup that day [Page 113] that he was convinced Seven Seas was carrying munitions from Elisabethville to Katangan forces and that he expected soon to have evidence that it was bringing munitions into Katanga from abroad. (Ibid., 470G.118/3–2861)
A memorandum of a telephone conversation between Acting Secretary of State Chester Bowles and Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Harlan Cleveland at 7:10 p.m. on March 29 reads in part as follows:
“Mr. Cleveland called to make two quick reports. The first was concerning the Seven Seas. Mr. Cleveland said the Department of Commerce really got off the ground when he called Martin, Under Secretary for Transportation. They have issued an order which cancels all Seven Seas export licenses and they are doing up a transportation order which cannot be signed and sealed until tomorrow morning. Mr. Cleveland said that when he called Mr. Martin at noon today, Mr. Martin said he had never heard of the subject. He was very much impressed and at 5:00 he called and said that it was all set. [2 lines of source text not declassified] We sent word back that we would talk to them about it. Mr. Bowles said the U.S. cannot play two policies and that is what we are doing.” (Ibid., Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 66 D 147, Chester Bowles’ Telcons. Clarence D. Martin, Jr., was Under Secretary of Transportation.)
On March 30, the Department of State announced that the Department of Commerce had the previous day issued an amendment to Transportation Order T–1 prohibiting the transportation of certain military and paramilitary items by U.S.-registered vessels or aircraft from any point of origin to destinations in the Congo, except under special authority or license, to be granted only when the shipment was to be made at U.N. request or with U.N. approval. The announcement reiterated U.S. support for the U.N. position that no military or paramilitary assistance should be sent to the Congo except through the United Nations. (American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, page 801)