288. Editorial Note
At the 470th meeting of the National Security Council on December 20, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles discussed developments in the Congo during his briefing on significant world developments. The relevant portion of the memorandum of discussion by Deputy NSC Executive Secretary Marion W. Boggs, dated December 21, reads as follows:
[Page 639]“The Director of Central Intelligence said the most critical development in the Congo at the present time was the effort of Gizenga to pull together a dissident regime in Stanleyville with the active support of the USSR and the UAR. The USSR has experienced some difficulties in sending supplies to Stanleyville because the Sudan has refused refueling of Soviet planes at Khartoum. Moreover, there appears to be some policy difference between the USSR and the UAR over the Congo. The pro-Lumumba African countries are now thinking of withdrawing their military contingents from the UN force while leaving them deployed in the Congo. Meanwhile, Mobutu is considering military action against Stanleyville. The Congo Army units in Orientale and Equateur provinces were probably loyal to Mobutu. Reports have been received from Leopoldville that Gizenga doubts his ability to repel an attack by Mobutu’s forces. Dayal is increasingly hostile to the West and wants the Congo Army disarmed. Under Western pressure, Mobutu has professed a willingness to reconvene Parliament. Kasavubu plans a conference of political parties late in December. Mr. Dulles then noted that he had just received a report that Lumumba was dead, but he placed no credence in this report.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)