Office of the Historian

214. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ghana0

September 13, 1960, 7:29 p.m.

264. Ambassador should approach Nkrumah expressing hope President will take no precipitate action Congo until situation clarified. Following may be used as talking points: (1) Withdrawal Ghana troops from UN and/or unilateral military assistance to Congo outside UN framework could seriously jeopardize internal security Leopoldville and would threaten success entire UN operation in Congo and future of UN as effective organization. Might also be useful point out excellent job done so far by Ghana troops in maintaining order; without their help, crisis of last few days might well have resulted in serious bloodshed. (2) Stature of Nkrumah as African leader would seem to indicate moderation and exercise of due deliberation after situation clarified and facts known and can be weighed. Precipitate action would not seem consonant with role of leadership. (3) Whatever the merits of the Kasavubu–Lumumba dispute, all Congo leaders except Lumumba have expressed willingness to discuss future unified Congo government structure. This must represent good share Congo public opinion and we would hope that all countries supporting UN can support what seems to us to be proper constitutional procedure and expression of major segment Congo opinion.

Please report soonest outcome your representation.1

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/9–1360. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Woodruff, cleared by Cargo, and approved by Ferguson. Repeated to Léopoldville and USUN.↩
  2. Flake reported in telegram 348 from Accra, September 14, that he had seen Nkrumah that day. Nkrumah told Flake he would support a meeting of all Congo leaders and that he had urged Lumumba to participate in such a meeting, and he indicated that Ghanaian troops would continue to participate in the U.N. force. He told Flake he had received many messages from Lumumba and implied that they were requests for support of Lumumba personally; Rake’s impression was that he was tiring of Lumumba’s appeals. (Ibid., 770G.00/9–1460)↩