232. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1
6054. Eyes only for Ambassadors. The following is the text of a letter from the President to Ambassador Bruce regarding the Tripartite Talks beginning Tuesday, May 15.
“Dear David:
I attach great importance to the talks you will be having this week on the Congo with the British and Belgians.
Time is fast running out on integrating Katanga promptly into the rest of the Congo. We want this integration to be achieved peacefully. However, if Tshombe proves obdurate we must be prepared to pursue actions which could involve the use of force by the UN. We must anticipate of course that Tshombe, encouraged by some of his advisers, will discount our readiness to see the UN again resort to force; we must seek to convince him of his error.
The financial interests behind Tshombe are important elements in any successful resolution of the Congo problem. It is essential, therefore, that you drive home to the British and Belgian Governments our determination to achieve an integrated Congo. They, in turn, must impart this determination to the financial interests of both countries involved in the Congo. You and your British and Belgian colleagues might point out that failure to achieve a viable solution will most certainly result in catastrophe for the commercial enterprises in the Congo.
[Page 450]There should emerge from your talks agreement on what the British, the Belgians, and ourselves would consider a reasonable settlement between Adoula and Tshombe, and on the means to bring it about. This will require that the British and Belgian Governments, and their nationals with financial interests in the Congo, give full support to a program to achieve this objective.
The Prime Minister and I have discussed this matter carefully and we both believe that US, UK, and Belgian interests will be served best by tripartite consultations and the development of a concerted course of action. The task is not easy, but with your experience I am sure we can convince our friends of the seriousness of the situation.
Sincerely, John F. Kennedy”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/5–1462. Secret; Niact. Drafted and approved in the Executive Secretariat and cleared by Ball and by Bromley Smith at the White House. Repeated to Brussels, Léopoldville, and USUN. The letter transmitted here was drafted in the Department of State, sent to the White House with a May 13 covering memorandum from Battle to Bundy, and approved with revisions by Dungan and the President. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Congo)↩