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

31. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate in Elisabethville¹

Washington, February 16, 1961, 5:15 p.m.

432. In view assassination Lumumba and intransigent position Tshombe, with respect any efforts affect cooperation Léopoldville Government, Department believes Canup should probably now be recalled.²Katanga is now malodorous politically and withdrawing Canup may be useful way emphasize our disapproval. We are being widely accused supporting Tshombe which we, of course, have never done but it may be advisable give some tangible proof that this is not the case. Arrival French jet planes procured by American company and brought in by American-owned airline may very well take place despite our efforts to stop it³ and US may again become tarred with the Tshombe brush. Furthermore Tshombe’s recruiting efforts in such places as South Africa can only be deplored and withdrawal our principal officer serve to focus attention on our mdistaste for maneuvers.

In any event, Canup’s personal relations with Tshombe have deteriorated to such an extent that clearly he can exert no influence and it seems appropriate leave Consulate with skeleton staff and with junior officer in charge.

While Department realizes Tshombe may interpret Canup’s recall as bowing to his demands, this may be overcome if we deliver stiff note, preferably signed by Ambassador Timberlake, expressing full confidence in Canup and informing Tshombe that on no occasion did he act except in accordance explicit instructions from Department.

Report views soonest.⁴

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/2–1661. Confidential. Drafted by Ferguson, cleared by Wallner, and approved by Penfield. Also sent to Brussels, Léopoldville, and USUN.
2. Tshombe had requested Canup’s recall in a January 20 letter to Rusk. (Ibid., 123–Canup, William C.) The Department’s initial reaction was to withdraw him, but when Canup argued that this would give Tshombe the impression that he had won a victory over the Consulate and that the U.S. position would be stronger if he remained, at least temporarily, the Department deferred to his judgment. (Telegrams 391 and 399 to Elisabethville, February 4 and 7; ibid., 770G.00/2–461 and 770G.00/2–661, respectively; telegram 482 from Elisabethville, ibid.)
3. Reference is to the delivery of three French-manufactured jet training planes to Katanga by Seven Seas Airlines, an American corporation. According to a February 21 memorandum from Department of State Legal Adviser Abram Chayes to Rusk, prior to the transportation of the planes to Katanga, the Department urged the company not to deliver them but it declined to heed this appeal. Chayes recommended steps to prevent a repetition of the episode, which Rusk approved, and the initiation of sanctions against the company, which Rusk did not approve. (Ibid., 770G.5622/2–2161)
4. Canup replied in telegram 546, February 21, that his removal might lead to retaliatory action against the Consulate and possibly other Americans in Katanga. He recommended keeping the Consulate open to maintain a U.S. presence and to “indicate USG does not yield easily to white settler campaign to eliminate U.S. influence.” Otherwise he thought the Department should close the Consulate and make a strong public statement of U.S. views. (Ibid., 770G.00/2–2161) In telegram 1797 from Léopoldville, February 24, Timberlake recommended leaving Canup in Elisabethville while putting pressure on Tshombe through Brussels. (Ibid., 770G.00/2–2461)