Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Africa, Volume XIV

280. Telegram From the Embassy in the Congo to the Department of State⁰

Léopoldville, December 10, 1960, 6 p.m.

1370. Deptel 1551¹ and Embtels 1351² and 1352.³ Had half hour with Mobutu last night during which I set forth and explained problems for Congo, US and other friends in NY arising out of government by Commissioners. I told him convinced friends of Congo who understood situation were having increasingly difficult time holding line against dedicated enemies who sought personal or national ends in Congo situation. Those who could be expected support genuinely neutral policy which would permit Congolese people to solve own problems are becoming disturbed over simple fact normal executive machinery is not operating in Congo and many are inclined to feel a military dictatorship, which they dislike, is in fact now operating here. I assured him again we wished to be as helpful as possible and urged upon him the necessity for asking such changes as we recommended in order that Congo representatives and friends at UN would be given the necessary means for attracting and holding largest possible number of nations in this middle group. I said failure or delay in taking such steps might seriously jeopardize future of moderate government in Congo which I knew he favored.

We shall have another session with him tomorrow or Monday.⁴

This morning I went over the same ground with Adoula who is politically more perceptive and who has been working with other leaders including Bolikango, Ileo and Kasavubu. He urged that he talk also with Mobutu with whom his relations have been good in past but over preceding two months have slightly cooled. I believe he will now make effort to sit down with Mobutu and discuss creation of Cabinet which Kasavubu can appoint.

I have appointment with Kasavubu early Monday afternoon during which I shall make same pitch. Earlier date could not be obtained. Embassy has reported I think fully on developments and actions in line with agreed policy although we have refrained from reporting in detail conversations with leaders which did not produce facts or indications of significance. We have used other channels as appropriate for reporting.

I think I am fully and sympathetically aware of the need for an urgent solution along lines Department has so ably laid out. We have found out, however, from bitter experience here that it is possible to achieve results opposite to or different from those sought by pressing Congolese too closely or too hard. I am satisfied that Soviets erred in that respect and that it was one of important contributing causes of their ouster. Congolese are extremely sensitive to pressure even when it is exerted in their own interests as the UN should already have found out. Department and USUN can be sure we shall take them down the right road as fast as we think they can be inspired to move and that our best efforts are being expended to that end. I would be less than candid if I were to express my feeling that this can be accomplished in next few days. One of difficult problems which Congolese themselves must solve is composition new Cabinet. Until that is agreed upon by Kasavubu, Mobutu and other leaders, or they agree to restore Ileo government as now constituted, we cannot expect them to eliminate College of Commissioners since it is only government now operating. I can, however, without exaggerating say that I believe since urgency has finally been injected into principal participants and that they understand the issues, I am satisfied they are doing their best to come up with a solution which will meet the exigencies of present situation. Furthermore, and most important, they have not lost their confidence in our friendship and disinterested consideration for their well-being and success.

Timberlake

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/12–1060. Secret; Priority. Also sent to USUN and repeated to Brussels.
1. Dated December 8, telegram 1551 to Léopoldville emphasized the importance of persuading Mobutu and Kasavubu to restore constitutional government. (Ibid., 770G.00/11–1560)
2. Reference is presumably to Document 278.
3. Dated December 7, telegram 1352 from Léopoldville reported a conversation with Adoula. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/12–760)
4. December 12.