Zaire
[Page 1]287. Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Hyland) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Hyland responded to the analysis presented in Zaire telegram 9078 (Document 286), finding that it contained some valid observations, but that its recommendations were ultimately naïve and almost guaranteed to produce the results it warned against.
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Box 11, Africa 1975, re: Pike Committee. Secret; Nodis. Kissinger’s handwritten initials appear in the bottom right corner of the first page
288. Action Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Mulcahy) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Mulcahy presented two options for pursuing Congressional approval of an AID Loan to Zaire. Kissinger approved the second option: continue to seek approval of an AID loan to Zaire, but without agreeing to help Tanzania and Zambia.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975, P800139–1593. Confidential. Drafted by Strand, cleared in AID/AFR, AID/LEG, H, IO, and by Vance. An unidentified hand initialed Kissinger’s approval of the alternate recommendation and wrote: “Secretary asks that Mr. Ingersoll call Humphrey and Clark Nov. 4.” Ingersoll spoke with Humphrey on November 7, and with Clark on November 10. (Record of telephone conversations; ibid., Papers of Sheldon B. Vance, 1967–76, Box 1, Zaire 1974)
289. Telegram 474 From the Embassy in Zaire to the Department of State
Ambassador Cutler reported on President Mobutu’s security concerns and request for U.S. help, and recommended that Washington show some positive, tangible response.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. On the Ford Library copy, a notation on the top of the first page reads: “The President has seen.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Box 7, Zaire (1))
290. Telegram 14140 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Zaire
The Department instructed the Embassy to sympathize with Zairian security concerns and to assure President Mobutu that he had U.S. understanding and support.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Repeated Immediate to USUN and Priority to USDEL Secretary. Drafted by Thompson R. Buchanan, Jr. (AF/C); cleared in IO, AF, S/S; and approved by Kissinger via telegram. An information copy of the telegram was sent Priority to the Secretary’s delegation abroad. Kissinger was traveling from Copenhagen to Moscow.
291. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Robinson) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Robinson reported on actions underway to carry out the Secretary’s instructions to mobilize U.S. and multilateral support for Zaire.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Economic Files: Lot 77 D 116, Box 4, Under Secretary Robinson Memoranda, January—March 1976. Confidential. Cleared by Schaufele. The attached memorandum from Schaufele to Kissinger entitled, “ZAIRE: Plans and Propsects for US Assistance,” March 6, is not published
292. Telegram 3555 From the Embassy in Zaire to the Embassies in Tanzania and Zambia
Ambassador Cutler provided Secretary of State Kissinger with a tour d’horizon of Zaire in preparation for the Secretary’s visit to Kinshasa.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Immediate. Repeated Priority to the Department of State
293. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford
Scowcroft passed to the President a message from Kissinger on his meeting with Mobutu in Kinshasa.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Trip Briefing Books and Cables for Henry Kissinger, Box 22, Africa 4/23/75–5/7/76, HAK Messages for the President. Secret; Nodis; Exclusively Eyes Only. Ford initialed the memorandum.
294. Memorandum of Conversation
Secretary Kissinger and President Mobutu discussed U.S.-Zaire relations, focusing on U.S. military and economic assistance for Zaire.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976, P829117–2481. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place aboard Mobutu’s yacht. Drafted on May 26. A May 26 S/S memorandum attached to this document includes a handwritten note indicating, “This replaces the earlier Toumayan (the Department’s interpreter/notetaker) version of the same meeting, which was a Washington redraft of his notes.”
295. Memorandum of Conversation
Secretary Kissinger and President Mobutu summed up their discussions during Kissinger’s three-day visit to Zaire.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976, P860120–2141. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the presidential palace
296. Telegram 13019 From Secretary of State Kissinger in Oslo to the Embassy in Zaire
Secretary Kissinger instructed Ambassador Cutler to pass a letter to Mobutu, informing him that the United States was working actively on his request for economic and military assistance, and that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld was prepared to visit Zaire in July.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated to the Department
297. Interagency Intelligence Memorandum 76–023
The interagency study examined the military threat to Zaire and concluded that it did not face external military attack during the next year or so.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 91R00884R, Box 9, Folder 14, IIM: Military Threat to Zaire. Secret; Noforn; Nocontract; Orcon. Transmitted by covering memorandum from DCI Bush to Kissinger on May 25. (Ibid.)
298. Memorandum From the Chief of the U.S. Military Technical Advisory Team (Rockwell) to the Secretaries of Defense and State
Rockwell presented the report of his second mission to Zaire. He indicated that Soviet designs on Southern Africa represented a well-defined threat to Zaire, and advised that substantial outside assistance was required to meet the threat.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–79–0049, Box 88, Zaire, 1976 (2). Secret. Enclosure 1 is published as Document 271. Enclosure 2, Report of U.S. Military Advisory Team II, undated, is not published.
299. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting
Secretary Kissinger, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations Robert McCloskey, and Assistant Secretary Schaufele discussed an economic aid package for Zaire.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 10, June 17, 1976. Secret.
300. Briefing Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of State (Robinson) to Secretary of State Kissinger
In response to Kissinger’s request in the staff meeting of June 17, Robinson transmitted a nine-point action plan for international aid to Zaire.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976, P760106–0299. Confidential. Copies were sent to E, AID, T, and AF. The memorandum was drafted by Rutherford M. Poats (D) on June 18. The Action Plan was drafted by Poats, and by Thompson R. Buchanan and Edward Marks (AF/C); and cleared in E, T, AF, and EB/OMA.
301. Telegram 5297 From the Embassy in Zaire to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld
The Embassy transmitted a memorandum of conversation of Rumsfeld’s June 18 meeting with President Mobutu in which they discussed threats from Soviet and Cuban backed regimes in neighboring countries and U.S. military assistance to Zaire.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–79–0049, Zaire, 1976. Secret; Niact Immediate; Eyes Only. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Eugene V. McAuliffe reported to Ambassador Cutler in telegram 5089 to Kinshasa, June 24, that “SecDef has approved without change your draft memorandum of his June 18 conversation with President Mobutu. In accordance with SECDEF’s instructions I am forwarding one copy to Larry Eagleburger for Secretary of State Kissinger. Working through State Department channels, we shall follow through on SecDef’s promise to Mobutu to make contact with Belgians.” (Ibid.)
302. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford
Scowcroft transmitted a report from Secretary Kissinger about his September 22 meeting with President Mobutu in Zaire which was largely devoted to Southern Africa issues.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Brent Scowcroft Daily Work Files, Box 14, Chronological File A, September 16–30, 1976. Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. The memorandum was not initialed by Scowcroft.
303. Telegram 8745 From the Embassy in Zaire to the Department of State
Ambassador Cutler again stressed to the Department the importance of showing President Mobutu forward movement on U.S. military assistance.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.
305. Telegram 289739 From the Department of State to the Embassies in Belgium and France
The Department requested that the Embassies contact their host governments to inform them of U.S. military support for Zaire and U.S. willingness to consult on a coordinated assistance program.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, State Archiving System. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to Kinshasa and DOD/OASD/ISA. Drafted by Michael F. Gallagher and Thompson R.Buchanan in AF/C, cleared by PM, EUR/WE, EUR/NE, T, ISA, and DSAA. Telegrams 167 from Brussels, January 7, 1977, and 845 from Paris, January 11, reported the consultations. (Ibid.)
306. Report No. 662 Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research
The paper reviewed the economic situation of Zaire and concluded that the long-term outlook for the country was not promising.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976, P770011–1415. Confidential. Drafted by Michael Chisek (INR), and approved by Lawrence Kennon (INR).