Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIII, Congo, 1960–1968

533. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo¹

Washington, August 9, 1967, 1950Z.²

18100. Ref: Kinshasa 2251, 2273.³

1. You may inform Mobutu that, in part on basis his request for mission to Goma reported Kinshasa 2251, USG will retain remaining C–130 in Congo for short additional period.

2. You should not make any commitment for specific time limit or encourage Mobutu to believe that it will stay for any longer than matter of days.

3. Assume request for mission to Goma August 10 will be forwarded through JTF channel.

4. Concur with line you taking on flights to Bujumbura.

Rusk

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Secret; Flash; Limdis. Drafted by Schaufele; cleared by Palmer, Colonel Hart in JCS, and Brown; and approved by Katzenbach. Repeated to CINCSTRIKE for POLAD Tampa.
2. Beginning in 1967, the dates and transmission times of all outgoing Department of State telegrams were in 6-figure date-time-groups. The “Z” refers to Greenwich mean time.
3. Both dated August 9. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 THE CONGO)