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

149. Telegram From the Embassy in the Congo to the Department of State¹

Léopoldville, December 5, 1961, 8 p.m.

1391. Linner asked me to participate in telex held with SYG today at 1530 hours. I had appointment with Adoula and therefore arrived late but Margolies, AIRA and other Embassy Officers present from beginning.

Linner outlined developments at Elisabethville and his plans for sending reinforcements as follows;

1. 300 Swedish troops plus 6.20 MM anti-aircraft guns sent this morning.

2. USAF to be asked fly directly to Elisabethville with only brief stopover Léopoldville incoming Swedish and Irish reinforcements. Emphasized USAF assistance required to save time and also because likely charter pilots would not be prepared fly into Elisabethville. Furthermore desired send five armed personnel carriers from Léopoldville which are urgently needed in Elisabethville and cannot be lifted in C–119 aircraft.

3. Alerting Nigerian battalion in Léopoldville for move to Elisabethville to be carried by UN aircraft as far as possible but might ask for USAF assistance as well.

4. Swedish Sabes and Indian Canberras alerted to go in after first light tomorrow with principal targets troop movements toward Elisabethville from Jadotville, plus others to be designated by local Commander. Jets being moved forward from Luluabourg to Kamina where jet fuel prepositioned.

SYG replied he fully supported action taken by Linner and directed move reinforcements of all kinds into Katanga to extent considered necessary. He endorsed employment jets and moving jets forward to Kamina if Linner and Elisabethville Commander felt necessary. He gave full approval use USAF aircraft for moving reinforcements to Elisabethville and said he was requesting most urgently USG approve use US aircraft for lifting reinforcements.

At this point I joined telex as USAF aircraft had been placed at disposition UN subject to condition they should not be used to break cease-fire, which broken by Katangan forces, authorized use US aircraft for lifting reinforcements to Elisabethville provided US lives not unreasonably endangered.

This was communicated by Linner to SYG with request USUN be informed my action. SYG said Linner should go ahead and he would immediately inform USUN.

USCINCEUR representative working out details with UNOC air staff and assuring jet support.²

For Hoffacker: Bear in mind presence US C–124’s which of course can be used evacuate Americans and Europeans on space available basis.

USCINCEUR representative and Embassy Officer Devlin probably accompanying first C–124 tomorrow.

Godley

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/12–561. Official Use Only. Also sent to USUN and Salisbury and repeated to London, Paris, Brussels, and Elisabethville.
2. A December 5 memorandum for the files by Rusk’s Special Assistant, Theodore C. Achilles, records a telephone conversation with Deputy Director of the Joint Staff Rear Admiral J.H. Wellings concerning a U.N. request for the use of U.S. aircraft to transport troops from Léopoldville to Elisabethville. After discussion, Achilles and Wellings agreed that JCS telegram 1559 (see footnote 1, Document 117) authorized the use of U.S. transport aircraft if the USCINCEUR representative was satisfied the flights could be made without undue risk. (Department of State, Central Files, 332.70G/12–561) Telegram JCS 2476 to USCINCEUR, December 5, directed the use of U.S. aircraft for intra-Congo airlift during the emergency under the terms of reference in JCS 1559. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Congo Cables)