Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XX, Congo Crisis

121. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo¹

Washington, September 20, 1961, 9:56 p.m.

461. US urging UN to issue statement interpreting Katanga cease-fire² as measure to prevent further fighting and loss of life and permit UN continue by peaceful means carry out mandate Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions, in particular preservation territorial integrity Congo.

Suggest you make urgent approach to Adoula stating US will urge UN continue vigorous efforts to fulfill mandate under which it so far operated. US Government considers imperative that UN military posture in Congo be strengthened so that without danger of new outbreak armed resistance against UN it obtain adequate power to achieve its objectives in Congo by peaceful means. You should reassure Adoula that UN will have fullest US support in pursuing policy under which it operated since February. Also inform him we believe pressure of strengthened UN presence and other political pressures to which Katanga will be exposed will result in forcing Tshombe to reintegrate Katanga into the Congo on reasonable basis not full autonomy.

Fully realize Adoula rejected cease-fire and great pressure under which he bound to be in view unfortunate Katanga developments and deeply felt Congolese insistence upon ending secession. Our purposes of course must be to strengthen Adoula against Gizengist group and believe strengthening UN presence best means. Realize Adoula may have to permit ANC let off steam but view limited capabilities ANC this unlikely result civil war for considerable time pending which combined pressure from UN and fear ANC attack should hopefully move Tshombe toward conciliatory position. By then, hope Adoula would be able take constructive attitude which would facilitate reintegration without destroying political contribution which Katanga could make Congo.³

Bowles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/9–2061. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Eisenberg, cleared by Vance, and approved by Cleveland. Repeated to USUN, Brussels, London, Paris, and Salisbury.
2. A provisional cease-fire agreement was signed on September 20 at Ndola by Khiari and Tshombe. For text, see U.N. doc. S/4940/Add.7; also printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, p. 835.
3. Gullion reported in telegram 789, September 22, that he had read this message to Adoula almost verbatim, and that Adoula was highly appreciative and generally in agreement. Gullion commented that the Adoula government seemed to think the United States “one of its few friends.” He thought it was important to give them encouragement but not to arouse “excessive expectations,” and he recommended that the Department think in concrete terms of the political and economic pressures that might be applied to Tshombe. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/9–2261)