222. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1
3542. Congo. Cleveland, Yost, Fredericks, Sisco and Bartlett met with Thant, Bunche, Narasimhan and Stavropoulos yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. Cleveland said we wished follow up on conversations of previous day (Monday) with Bunche and Gardiner (ourtel 3515).2
Re problems raised by Gardiner concerning use of customs collection scheme, Cleveland said we had considered this matter further and had reached fol tentative conclusions: it was very important to get Adoula-Tshombe talks off dead center since time working on Tshombe’s side in indefinite continuation of negots. Therefore someone, presumably UN, must play more vigorous mediating role. Moment may come before long when Gardiner could usefully enter with formula consisting of points about where negots should come out. These would cover both financial and political-constitutional essentials.
Cleveland recalled Bunche and Gardiner had asked us what U.S. position would be after sensible mediation proposal put forward which Adoula accepted but Tshombe rejected and continued to stall. Cleveland said U.S. mood as fol: we think if sensible middle position was formulated and put on table (and perhaps eventually publicized) and [Page 427] Adoula indicated willingness accept it while Tshombe refused, U.S. would be prepared to back UN customs collection scheme with all its implications. Obviously, he added, U.S. have to reserve final decision but at this point felt very strongly in that direction. Cleveland added time limit would need be put on negots, say June 15. He said we would be ready talk now with UK and Belgians and others to try to organize consensus behind such procedure. However, before we did that we would need UN’s views on timing as well as content of proposed UN initiative. Cleveland observed there no use developing consensus unless UN willing play mediating role. Before Thant and others could comment fully, mtg had to terminate to enable Cleveland and Sisco (and Gardiner) to catch plane for Leo. However, Thant did indicate Cleveland’s ideas compatible with his views, though he did not specifically say UN would assume more vigorous mediatory role Cleveland suggested. We suspect, in light yesterday’s conversation with Bunche and Gardiner (USUN 3515), UN will await Gardiner’s recommendations after resumption Adoula-Tshombe negots before determining if and when to take responsibility putting forward compromise formula.
Bunche reported on two developments since previous talks: (A) Adoula had made speech which Bunche considered quite conciliatory and moderate. He mentioned some of main points including Adoula’s account of where talks now stand. (B) Tshombe’s office has sent cable asking UN to take Mumba (phonetic) to Leo tomorrow to discuss arrangements for return of Tshombe. From these two developments Bunche considered outlook relatively hopeful for recommencing of negots, probably beginning next week.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/4-2662. Confidential; Priority; Limited Distribution. Repeated to Léopoldville, Brussels, London, and Paris. The source text does not indicate the time of transmission; it was received at 4:10 p.m.↩
- Document 221.↩