143. Memorandum for the Record1
[Omitted here is discussion of unrelated subjects.]
6. Covert Action, Congo
The CIA paper of 19 April2 was approved with little discussion. The Chairman said that his only concern was whether we are committed to spending money at this rate forever. Mr. Tweedy said first that if the Adoula government should fall, it would probably be in the U.S. interest to support a successor government in a somewhat similar way and, secondly, he pointed out that there are no firm commitments made, although of course the recipients do come to expect a subsidy.
[Page 202]Mr. Bundy said he would mention this project to higher authority.3
[Omitted here is discussion of unrelated subjects.]
- Source: National Security Council, Intelligence Files, Special Group—Minutes—1963. Secret; Eyes Only.↩
- See Document 142, which recommended the approval of activities costing [dollar amount not declassified] for FY 1964.↩
- CIA telegram 36265 to Leopoldville, April 30, informed the Station that higher authority had approved continuation of the [text not declassified] project and programmed funds for organization of a political party, for propaganda [text not declassified], and to support Mobutu. Headquarters, however, saw serious drawbacks to a CIA-sponsored party centered on either Adoula or Bomboko. Thus, it strongly urged the Station to review with the Ambassador the entire concept of a covert U.S. effort to build a party, suggesting as alternatives concentration on building the political loyalty of Mobutu’s subordinates, [text not declassified] and continuing to search for a better instrument than the presently constituted [text not declassified] offered. (Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 78–00435R, DDO/ISS Files, Box 2, Folder 1, [cryptonym not declassified] Operations)↩