Office of the Historian

35. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense Gates0

JCSM–466–60
October 17, 1960.

SUBJECT

  • U.S. Interest in Ghana and Guinea (U)
1.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff are concerned about the threat to the security of the United States which has resulted from Sino-Soviet Bloc accelerated penetration of Ghana and Guinea during the past year and a half.
2.
Bloc technical assistance and aid programs, designed to exploit the difficulties, desires and prejudices of these two struggling nations, have given the Bloc considerable influence in their internal affairs. Both nations have authoritarian governments under the leadership of strong personalities who are ambitious for a position of predominance on the African continent, who have Western education and background but with strong Marxist tendencies, and who admire the USSR as a nation which has grown in national power under a socialist system. Thus, both nations, but Guinea in particular, are increasingly following the path leading to domination by international communism. Indications are that Guinea is well on the way to becoming a Bloc satellite. Although Ghana at present maintains a Western orientation, the sharp rise in Bloc activity has serious future implications.
3.
The political orientation of Ghana and Guinea is of significant strategic importance to the United States because of their location on the western bulge of Africa with coastlines on the South Atlantic. The air and maritime facilities of these two nations, both actual and potential, would constitute a serious threat to U.S. interests in the South Atlantic and in South America, as well as in Africa itself, if they were to fall under the political influence of the Sino-Soviet Bloc.
4.
Since national regimes in Africa subject to domination of Sino-Soviet imperialism would be unacceptable to U.S. national security, it is necessary that action be initiated now to prevent the situations in Ghana and Guinea from becoming a serious threat to the security of the United States.
5.
U.S. military forces should participate in a coordinated political-economic-psychological-military program designed to increase U.S. influence and eliminate Sino-Soviet Bloc activities in the Ghana-Guinea area, as well as in other African nations. Possible military activities include, but are not limited to:
a.
Prompt establishment of military attachés.
b.
Visits of U.S. military units, with the timing of the visits coordinated with the political situation.
c.
Invitations for military leaders to visit the United States.
d.
Training of armed forces officers and technicians in U.S. Service schools, coordinating with other Western powers if appropriate.
e.
Participation of U.S. military medical personnel in local tropical medicine research.
f.
[1 paragraph (2 lines of source text) not declassified]
6.
It is recommended that the substance of the above be discussed with the Secretary of State with a view to initiating more active and comprehensive U.S. interest in Ghana and Guinea as well as in other African nations subject to the threat of Sino-Soviet imperialism.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
L.L. Lemnitzer1
Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.70/10–3160. Secret. Enclosure to a letter of October 31 from Deputy Secretary of Defense James H. Douglas to Herter, which transmitted it and suggested early discussions between the State and Defense Departments “with a view toward moving forward rapidly with the development of agreed policies and programs for Africa.”↩
  2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩