Office of the Historian

240. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State0

New York, October 11, 1960.

Secto 40. Congo. Following from uncleared memo of conversation:

During courtesy call Secretary paid SYG this evening (Bunche also present), Hammarskjold made following points:

1.
Situation in Congo, he said, continued extremely messy. No one person there strong enough to depend upon for future. Kasavubu was doing absolutely nothing. Mobutu was weak reed. Lumumba very likely dope addict. Bomboko suspected of being imperialist stooge. In short there was no one on scene who could be really helpful in bringing order out of chaos. In this connection, Bunche commented it would be ruinous for US [UN?] to tie its policy closely to any one of these individuals.
2.
In present situation SYG remarked only thing UN could do was to steer very careful course allowing things to develop for while.
3.
With respect possible arrest of Lumumba, SYG commented Ambassador Timberlake had “made noises” in Dayal’s direction presumably expressing conviction UN should permit arrest. SYG expressed conviction UN could not possibly do this for variety of reasons including fact Lumumba had parliamentary immunity.
4.
In present circumstances SYG thought best hope perhaps was to build toward leadership for legislative body in Congo. Difficulty here was that some members were “bought up”, some were in hiding and many of course could not be relied upon.
5.
Idea of Afro-Asian advisory committee for Congo had died down but now rejuvenated with coming of Sekou Toure. Newest idea among some Afro-Asians was such committee should be formed and should have Krishna Menon1 as chairman.
6.
In response to question SYG said Khrushchev proposal for throwing SYG out had subsided.2 He anticipated taking some more wind out of Khrushchev’s sails by appointing three former presidents of GA (Belaunde, Pearson and Madame Pandit)3 to consult with him for two to three day period about desirability of strengthening UN Secretariat. This move would be designed to implement suggestion he had made in SYG report to GA on improvement Secretariat and would have nothing directly to do with Khrushchev’s proposal. SYG further commented Khrushchev had exuded sweetness and light since he gave SYG bear hug at USSR reception last week.
7.
Nehru, he said, had come to UN session on pretty sound ground. Subsequently, however, he had been subjected to great deal of pressure from African delegates and had softened somewhat.
8.
SYG reported Sekou Toure told him Mobutu had written Lumumba that if latter would guarantee his security Mobutu would give up.
9.
SYG seemed in excellent spirits despite severity of recent attacks upon him. Secretary told him he should know that USG stood back of him one-thousand per cent. Herter

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/10–1160. Secret. Repeated to Léopoldville. The telegram does not indicate the time of transmission, but it was received at 10:29 p.m.↩
  2. Indian Defense Minister and Indian Representative at the United Nations.↩
  3. In his address before the General Assembly on September 23, Khrushchev proposed abolishing the position of Secretary-General and replacing it with a three-person executive representing the Western powers, socialist states, and neutral states. For text, see U.N. doc. A/PV.869; his proposal is extracted in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 35–38. For documentation, see vol. II, pp. 338 ff.↩
  4. Victor Andrés Belaúnde of Peru, Lester Pearson of Canada, and Madame Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India.↩