146. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1
1920. Congo. SYG informed Yost last evening Adoula had rejected suggested appointment high-level mediator2 on grounds this would confer too much status on Tshombe. Adoula said he would discuss proposal with Cabinet but Thant agreed Cabinet most unlikely to take different stand.
Thant concludes that Adoula-Tshombe meeting on Congo territory is only means of conciliation which GOC will accept. He strongly urged US continue endeavor persuade Tshombe attend such meeting, perhaps at Kamina. He pointed out Tshombe still at Brazzaville, mentioned he understands French have persuaded Youlou press Tshombe to negotiate immediately and hoped we might also be able take similar action in Brazzaville.
SYG also expressed very grave concern at latest Gizenga speech3 of which he had just heard and which he feared would further seriously [Page 287] threaten Congo unity. He believes this development reinforces urgency settling Katanga problem.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/12–361. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Léopoldville and Brazzaville.↩
- Thant told Yost on December 1 that he had approached Adoula through Linner urging efforts at conciliation and suggesting some people who might assist. (Telegram 1914 from USUN, December 2; ibid., 770G.00/12–261)↩
- Reference is apparently to a speech given by Gizenga on November 29 in Stanleyville; extracts are printed in Verhaegen, Congo 1961, pp. 565–569.↩