Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Western Europe and Canada, Volume XXVII

285. Agreed United States–United Kingdom Paper¹

BEM D–5/1a

Washington, March 13, 1957.

MEANS OF COMBATTING COMMUNIST INFLUENCE IN TROPICAL AFRICA

(Agreed US–UK Paper)

There is conclusive evidence that the leaders of the Communist Bloc have the long-term objective of dominating Tropical Africa, in view of its political, economic, and military importance. Although their ultimate aim is presumably the Sovietization of the continent, their purpose in the present phase is to detach Tropical Africa from the West, both economically and politically, thus weakening the position of the metropolitan powers and the rest of the free world.

1) The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom have a common purpose in combatting these Soviet objectives in Tropical Africa.

2) The best counter to Soviet aims is to pursue resolutely and systematically the constructive policy of leading dependencies as rapidly as is practicable toward stable self-government or independence in such a way that these governments are willing and able to preserve their political and economic ties with the West. The UK Government believes that its present Colonial policy in Tropical Africa is a sincere attempt to achieve this purpose.

3) The problems of different territories vary widely. Although there must be progress everywhere, the advance cannot be at a uniform rate. In this connection, a most difficult and important problem exists of striking a balance between moving too fast, which may lead to anarchy or oppression and open the way to Communist influence, or moving too slowly, thus driving the potential leadership into Communist collaboration.

4) Periodic, informal exchanges of views between the United Kingdom and the United States on the above problems, as well as related African matters, will be helpful in achieving understanding of each other’s policies and in furthering the common objective of combatting Soviet expansion in the area.

[1 paragraph (3 lines of source text) not declassified]

1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 856. Secret. Prepared jointly by representatives of the British Embassy in Washington and the Department of State; approved by J. Lampton Berry, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs, and by Arthur R. Ringwalt of BNA; and approved in substance by EE. The paper was discussed on March 23; see Document 279.