319. Telegram From the Embassy in Guinea to the Department of State0
91. Department pouch Paris, Monrovia. From Satterthwaite. Thanks to joint efforts Rinden and Ambassador Diallo I found on my arrival here yesterday an exceptional cordial atmosphere toward US as indicated by fact President Sekou Toure and members government have given me a very cordial reception. I had an hour with him and leading members his government last night followed by dinner with Foreign Minister Fode, Ambassador Diallo and new Secretary General of Foreign Affairs Diallo. This morning Rinden and I had an hour with Sekou Toure at which Legislative Assembly President Diallo Saifoulaye was only other person present.
Yesterday President spoke very bitterly of manner in which French left here (taking everything possible including arms from security forces with them) and of subsequent French intrigues to overthrow his government. He spoke with pride of impressive progress his government has made in spite the difficulties in both political and economic fields since independence.
This morning President discussed first role of French in Guinea and its interest and between Guinea and US in the development of our relations with Guinea; of the political and economic situation in Guinea and of what he called “the mystic” of Union of Black African States which he thought might spread to other African States later.
As of incidental interest he said that only visit he had made behind Iron Curtain was one to Warsaw of about four days in 1950 or 1951 of which French had full knowledge. On question of Czech arms he reiterated that Guinea had not asked for these arms and said that maximum number of rifles was between 2500 and 3000.
I mentioned in latter connection the confusion about his request to US for arms made through President Tubman of Liberia. I said that President Tubman had sincerely desired help Guinea in this matter and should not be criticized in any way for any misunderstandings which arose later.1
[Page 693]Rinden will prepare airgram reporting conversation in greater detail.2
- Source: Department of state, Central files, 611.70B/6–2459. Confidential. Repeated to Paris and Monrovia.↩
- Despatch 69 from Conakry, May 13, reported a conversation the previous day between Touré and Rinden in which Touré stated that he had-sent a letter to the U.S. Government via Tubman several months earlier requesting U.S. arms. (Ibid., 770B.5-MSP/5-1359) After a report along the same lines appeared in the New York Times on April 28, the Department of State issued a statement that the Liberian Ambassador had conveyed a Guinean request for arms to the Department on December 17, but that no formal communication had been received. (Telegram 300 to Monrovia, May 4; ibid., 770B.56/5–459)↩
- Airgram 10, June 30. (Ibid., 611.70B/6–3059)↩