Office of the Historian

196. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations1

Washington, January 26, 1962, 8:16 p.m.

1957. USSR pressing for urgent SC meeting on Congo,2 at least by Monday.3 We do not believe substantive Council consideration of Congo matter at this time will be helpful. Moreover, it would give Soviets opportunity to try to reverse present favorable trend in Congo and to exploit potentially divisive elements in Western camp, particularly on question of mercenaries.

We believe that Congolese attitude re possible SC meeting is key to situation. If Adoula can make clear publicly that he sees no reason for SC consideration of Congo question, this will be helpful in pulling rug from Soviet ploy for SC meeting. We hope therefore that Adoula can make public statement immediately in which he refers to his projected visit and indicate he sees no need for Security Council consideration of [Page 371] Congo question at this time since he plans address GA and developments in Congo proceeding satisfactorily.

Since consultations expected take place Saturday a.m. New York request Gullion see Adoula soonest and to report results telephonically to Cleveland or Wallner about 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Washington time.4

For USUN: Our objective is to prevent Security Council consideration of Congo question. We leave tactics to your discretion; whether you decide actually to prevent meeting from taking place, or to agree to convene on Monday and then either prevent adoption of agenda, call for immediate adjournment, or some other tactic which you develop in concert with other friendly SC members. Department prepared to support your efforts in capitals at such time as tactics evolved. Would appreciate your recommendations telephonically on this following your Saturday a.m. consultation.

Ball
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/1–2662. Confidential. Drafted by Sisco and Buffum; cleared by Harlan Cleveland, Eisenberg, Kellerman, and in substance by Ball; and approved by Wallner. Also sent to Léopoldville and repeated to London, Paris, Taipei, Caracas, Santiago, Dublin, Cairo, and Accra.↩
  2. The Soviet Union requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider the implementation of the Security Council resolution of November 24, 1961, in a January 25 letter from Zorin to Security Council President Sir Patrick Dean. (U.N. doc. S/5064; also printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1962, pp. 825–826)↩
  3. January 29.↩
  4. Gullion was not able to see Adoula before the latter’s departure for the heads of state and government meeting in Lagos (see footnote 2, Document 187). Telegram 743 from Lagos, January 28, reported that Ambassador Joseph Palmer had talked to Adoula and that Adoula agreed with the Department’s views and would make a public statement that day. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/1–2862)↩