463. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1
[dollar amount not declassified] for Congo. I cannot understand why we still have to spend so much to cope with a rebellion that is practically over. Nor do I find the papers Jessup has at all illuminating on future needs, as opposed to history.2
With your O.K., I had a deal with Helms to review the whole program by March and see what economies possible. They cut a whole half million off the air bill—peanuts.
The air force ([dollar amount not declassified]) is the nub. I’d give ’em half this ([dollar amount not declassified]) for use through 30 June and tell [Page 680] them to cut back to no more than [dollar amount not declassified] for the second half year. Believe me, my horseback guess is just as good as theirs.
- Source: National Security Council, Intelligence Files, 303 Committee, Minutes 1967. Secret.↩
- On February 11, Peter Jessup sent Komer the Congo paper for the 303 Committee (Document 462) attached to a memorandum stating that Mobutu needed what help he could get and noting that overall prospects were bleak for the long run because there was nobody else in the wings to relieve U.S. Government of its support role. (National Security Council, Intelligence Files, 303 Committee, Minutes 1967)↩