144. Telegram From the Consulate in Elisabethville to the Department of State1
674. Senator Dodd, who departed 230 pm today for Luanda,2 asks that following message be delivered to President:3
“Situation in Elisabethville dangerously tense.4 I had hoped stay until tomorrow for further conversations with Consulate staff, UN representatives and Tshombe. However, I am leaving for Luanda at 2 pm because it is felt that as US Senator I should not be placed in position of having incident attributed to my presence.
Feelings on UN side and on side of Katangans are so tense that any incident might result in mass bloodshed.
Most disturbing aspect of situation is that liaison between UN and Katanga Government is extremely poor. I believe that new UN representatives here, Brian Urquhart and George Smith are splendid men but unfortunately they have been here too briefly to establish rapport with Tshombe under these circumstances. Our Consulate and British Consulate have been endeavoring to provide liaison between UN and Katanga Government, running back and forth between two sides, in an effort to reduce tension and misunderstanding.
In this exceedingly grave situation, suggest that consideration be given to direct wire from you to UN representatives and to President Tshombe urging both sides to attempt to resolve present situation without [Page 284] incident because of the danger of even minor incidents when passions are so inflamed.
I shall wire at greater length from Luanda later today.5 Hoffacker has read and concurs. Signed Thomas J. Dodd”6
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Congo, 12/2/61–12/13/61. Confidential; Niact; Presidential Handling. Repeated to Brussels, Léopoldville, Luanda, and USUN.↩
- Senator Thomas J. Dodd visited Léopoldville November 26–28 and Elisabethville November 28–30. Telegram 1322 from Léopoldville, November 28, reported that he had seen Kasavubu, Adoula, and Mobutu, and that all the conversations had been “extremely cordial.” (Department of State, Central Files, 033.1100–DO/11–2861) Telegram 678 from Elisabethville, December 1, reported that Dodd and Hoffacker had accompanied Tshombe to Jadotville and Kolwezi on November 29 and had talked to him almost continuously that day. (Ibid., 033.1100–DO/12–161)↩
- Senator Dodd met with President Kennedy on November 20 before his departure. He wrote to Kennedy on November 21 that he agreed that an Adoula-Tshombe entente would be the best possible solution for the Congo and that he would discuss this with both Adoula and Tshombe. (Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Congo, General)↩
- Dodd witnessed an incident on November 29 in which Katangan para-commandos seized and beat U.N. representatives Brian Urquhart and George Ivan Smith at a party at the home of an American businessman. Smith was rescued by Hoffacker, and Urquhart was released later that night. The incident was reported in telegrams 663 and 665 from Elisabethville and 1331 from Léopoldville, all November 29. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/11–2961) For O’Brien’s account of the incident, see To Katanga and Back, pp. 320–326. For Urquhart’s account, see A Life in Peace and War, pp. 179–184.↩
- A message from Dodd to Kennedy, sent in an unnumbered telegram from Luanda, December 1, stated that Dodd thought there was a basis for rapprochement, if Adoula and Tshombe could be brought together for discussions. He stated that Adoula insisted any talks be held in Léopoldville, while Tshombe said he feared for his personal safety in Léopoldville but would meet with Adoula anywhere else. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/12–161)↩
- Kennedy replied in a message transmitted in telegram 119 to Luanda, December 1. The message indicated that the United States would continue to use all appropriate channels to urge calm and moderation on all sides and concluded: “In the circumstances, I think it wiser not to intervene personally, as this kind of personal intervention must be used sparingly.” (Ibid.)↩