Office of the Historian

98. Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to the Station in the Congo1

Washington, October 14, 1961, 1729Z.

Dir 18065 (Out 58161). Ref Leop 2180 (In 39391).2

1. Within recent weeks prospective action program in Congo has been subject discussion with ODACID. No question that program as detailed ref covers important action fields. However ODACID preliminary view is that program likely suffer from scatter gun approach unless attention directed to specific planks which will build permanent viable assets such as youth and labor groupings which capable action support [cryptonym not declassified] govt. There is no objection to psych activity in media field and bribes as such but conclusion which we share is that value is transitory unless such activity follows in wake of strenuous, continuing actions by [cryptonym not declassified] activists. Accordingly priorities must be established based on capabilities and need for activity which will pave way for well balanced program as activity picks up steam. Further observation which our experience certainly [Page 129] bears out is that success any aspects such program depends to great extent on our ability place effective operators on scene to handle.3

[Omitted here is further discussion of programs for the Congo.]

  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 78–00435R, DDO/ISS Files, Box 1, Folder 8, [cryptonym not declassified] Operations. Secret; Rybat; [cryptonym not declassified]; Routine. Drafted in AF/W and released by Tweedy (C/AF).↩
  2. Station under constant pressure to support an action program designed to build up the moderates and to undermine the Stanleyville group. [Footnote in the original.] In telegram 2180 to the CIA, October 3, the Station reported that all its contacts among the moderates, without exception, had expressed the belief that a showdown was approaching. Mobutu, [names not declassified] had decided to take the initiative against Stanleyville and, with Station guidance and support, were launching a psychological campaign [1½ lines not declassified]. (Ibid.)↩
  3. In telegram 2273 from Leopoldville to CIA, October 17, the Station responded that it fully concurred with the Agency and Department of State view that the short-term program submitted in telegram 2180 would be of transitory value unless followed by a long-term program such as that submitted in the October 12 dispatch from Leopoldville (Document 97). The Station wished to emphasize again that the moderates faced considerable pressure and feared that the extremists were gaining ground, and it urged Headquarters to make every effort to obtain the funds and personnel necessary to support a long-term program. (Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 78–00435R, DDO/ISS Files, Box 1, Folder 8, [cryptonym not declassified] Operations)↩