AF files, lot 58 D 459, “Memoranda–1953”
Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs ( Jernegan ) to the Under Secretary of State for Administration ( Lourie )1
Subject:
- Assignment to the Consulate General, Salisbury, of Principal Officer with Service Rank of Minister.
Discussion:
Within the next three months a new federal state will be established in Central Africa comprising the present territories of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. This new government will be known as the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and will have its capital in Salisbury. This decision constitutes one of the most favorable political developments yet to take place in Africa. There is every indication that with proper guidance from the British, as well as encouragement from the United States, this new government will achieve far-reaching benefits in the white man’s current struggle to better race relations, enhance economic conditions and stabilize the growing divergent political factors in Central Africa.
As a first step in the formation of this new state, the British Government will appoint a high-ranking Governor General to the federal government, and he is expected to arrive at Salisbury in August 1953 (persons of the prominence of Lord Louis Mountbatten have been mentioned for this post, but not confirmed). It is believed, that the establishment of this new government warrants an elevation in the prestige of our Consulate General. This is consistent with our representation at such posts as Hong Kong and Singapore which are headed by Principal Officers with the rank of Minister and Consul General. Our office at Salisbury will remain a Consulate General, and the assignment of an officer with the rank of Minister will not materially increase the cost.
An American representative with the service rank of Career Minister will demonstrate the importance the United States attaches to the successful implementation of the new federal state, and our sincere interest in Central Africa as an area vital to the welfare of the Free World and one in which the British concept of racial “Partnership” will be given a crucial test.
The new federal state will have a combined area of about 488,000 square miles and a total population of over 6,000,000. The three territories produce large quantities of tobacco, tea, tung oil, cotton and food crops. The area has deposits of virtually every mineral on the United States strategic list. Mineral production consists of gold, asbestos, chrome, coal, iron, copper, lead, zinc and vanadium.
United States interests in Central Africa are represented by the following:
- 1.
- An estimated $250 million in private investments, mostly in mining;
- 2.
- Loans and grants by the United States Government totaling $30.2 million;
- 3.
- United States interest in loans by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development totaling $42 million;
- 4.
- Central African exports to the United States and other Free World countries valued at $425 million annually;
- 5.
- Imports from the United States valued at about $20 million annually;
- 6.
- Extensive activity and financial contributions of American missionary groups throughout the area;
- 7.
- Growing activities of private Americans engaged in farming, ranching, engineering and private trade.
Recommendation:
That a Consul General with the service rank of Minister be assigned to Salisbury as the Principal Officer at such time as a new Governor General is appointed by the British Government.
[Here follows a recommendation of a person for the position who ultimately was not appointed.]
- This memorandum was drafted by Feld and Durnan of NEA/AF and Sims of NEA/EX and sent through Wailes, the Assistant Secretary of State for Administration. The source text, a carbon copy, bears no marks or endorsements to confirm that it actually was sent to Lourie.↩