330. Telegram From the Consulate in Elisabethville to the Department of State1
775. Deptels 414, 430; Contel 758; Léopoldville telegram 534.2 Delivered McGhee message to Tshombe 1730 tonight. Following Léopoldville’s telegram 534, changed unnumbered paragraph 5 to drop reference to stand-fast and to read “You indicated to me that you would release non-military UN supplies blocked by your military. I hope the necessary instruction can be given to your people as soon as possible in this matter”.
Tshombe was more subdued than I have yet seen him. Stated he depressed, pessimistic about future, asked my opinion on press story from New York concerning possibility sanctions. Complained, without rhetoric, that this time he had done things to implement plan and Adoula was blocking it. What did people expect Katanga to do? I replied that although in recent weeks his actions appeared more cooperative than Adoula, in my opinion he guilty of serious tactical error of waiting too long; world events appeared about to overtake him. Stated as indicated by McGhee letter, US still had some hope plan might be implemented, urged him give immediate attention to steps suggested in letter, take concrete action in next few days, strip away smaller issues, reduce question plan fulfillment to one or two final, fundamental issues such as division of powers in constitution. Tshombe said he would give most serious consideration to letter. Stated he would call US, UK, Belgian Consuls together tomorrow or next day to ask for their help and advice since he at end his resources.
On strength USUN 1788 to Department,3 asked Tshombe whether UN had requested freedom of movement to Jadotville and Kipushi and [Page 664] what his reaction. He replied Mathu had not raised this subject with him November 13 but Gardiner had sent him letter on subject yesterday. He stated his intention was to reply that willing to discuss freedom of movement all of Katanga immediately when tripartite teams activated in north. Stated he could not give UN freedom of movement in Jadotville-Kolwezi while fighting going on in north; Katangan population would be totally incapable understanding such action.
We believe Tshombe much softened by recent pressures, can be pressed for considerable advances toward plan implementation. Points 1–3 of UN requirements of Tshombe (USUN 1788) parallel McGhee letter and Tshombe could give some satisfaction on them forthwith.
Points 4 and 5 of UN program on free movement for all UN forces in all of Katanga including Jadotville and Kolwezi and removal mercenaries from gendarmerie are if seriously meant equivalent in current situation to demand for full and complete capitulation from Tshombe. Inclusion these points may well be for sake completeness and to placate Adoula and UN might be satisfied to negotiate them if progress made on previous ones. However, seems possible on basis recent Bunche remarks that this is key question for UN, may be considered grounds for action against Tshombe if his reply considered unsatisfactory. If this is so and rests on deliberate decision, it is one thing; it would then represent a bluff which has slight chance success. If it rests on misjudgment of Tshombe’s willingness to fight as may be reflected in Bunche’s ambiguous references to Tshombe’s lack of will to resist, consequences could be negative, possibly tragic.
For Leopoldville: Suggest Embassy may desire UK Consul to return Elisabethville sooner than Sunday as planned.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/11–1562. Confidential; Priority. Received at 1:44 p.m. and repeated to Léopoldville, Brussels, USUN, and London.↩
- Telegram 414 (see footnote 3, Document 323) transmitted a message from McGhee to Tshombe. Telegram 430 to Elisabethville, November 10, transmitted revisions. Telegram 758 from Elisabethville, November 13, asked whether a statement in the message that Adoula had agreed to a standfast was still accurate. Telegram 534 from Léopoldville to Elisabethville, sent to the Department as telegram 1128, November 14, replied that the situation was unclear and suggested deleting the sentence. (Ibid., 770G.00/11-1062, 770G.00/11-1362, and 770G.00/11-1462, respectively)↩
- Telegram 1788 from USUN, November 14, reported a conversation that day between Yost and Bunche. Bunche showed Yost a cable to Gardiner listing five specific actions that Gardiner should request of Tshombe: 1) send gendarmerie officers to Léopoldville to take an oath of loyalty without delay, 2) announce immediate steps to implement the revenue, financial, and currency provisions of the U.N. plan, 3) permit Congolese customs and immigration officials in Elisabethville to begin operations, 4) allow full movement in Katanga for all U.N. personnel, and 5) cooperate with the U.N. forces in elimination of mercenaries from the gendarmerie. (Ibid.)↩