237. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo0
1009. Embtel 824, rptd New York 157, Brussels 341.1 Following démarche reported reftel Department would appreciate your views on following subsequent steps which might be taken: Kasavubu and other appropriate Congo leaders might be approached and informed, while Department considers round-table conference useful, we hope focus this gathering will be preliminary constitutional talks, not settlement Lumumba–Kasavubu dispute or composition executive branch GOC. Whole assumption GOC should be Lumumba government now legally out of office. We hope Kasavubu will host conference and welcome delegates and Ileo or Bomboko chair session from then on. Obviously round table should include widest feasible spread Congo opinion and include parliamentary leaders and some MNC–Lumumba.
Department also considers it important Tshombe attend conference, and Elisabethville might do what it can influence him this direction. We hope he will be able come forward with specific ideas about Katanga contribution GOC revenue to assist urgent rehabilitation measures such fields as public health and refugee relief. Department feels this would win him some points African states as well as facilitate US and UN funding problems for ONUC.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/9–2660. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Ferguson and Woodruff, cleared in draft with Wallner and Chadbourn, and approved by Penfield. Repeated to USUN, Brussels, and Elisabethville.↩
- Document 229.↩