341. Telegram From the Consulate in Elisabethville to the Department of State1
814. Delivered McGhee letter (Deptel 445 to Elisabethville)2 to Tshombe 1100 this morning. Finance Minister Kibwe also present. Also read and left copy Kennedy-Spaak communique (Deptel 449)3 which Tshombe had not seen.
Tshombe restrained but somber and bitter. Stated could not accept such ultimatums. US and specifically McGhee could no longer be considered friends of Katanga. Their advice amounted to constant one-sided pressure on Katanga and to threats. Americans treated Negroes like dirt in US and same approach evident here, but US should know, would any case learn that threats against Africans only increase their opposition. Americans wished kill Katangans. Let them do so, but they would inherit a desert.
Tshombe said he now realized he fool not to have acted the demagogue and to have refused repeated communist bloc feelers to give him support. He should have acted like Adoula. Americans acted “as though Adoula was a god” whose fall would bring entire world down in ruins; failed to realize they had backed inefficient government from start which could at any time be replaced by other governments which more constructive, would not play footsy with communists or terrorize Americans with loud threats to call in communists. Adoula was “American dog”; only American dollars kept him alive, but dog was dragging his master wherever he wanted, not opposite.
Last minute, desperate US actions to prop up Adoula vain because even if Tshombe and Katanga destroyed, Adoula would not be helped, would finally founder. Adoula’s difficulties were of his own making, centered on Léopoldville, not Katanga. His government corrupt, had achieved nothing, failed to gain public support in whole period its existence. Tshombe in effect being forced pay for Adoula’s shortcomings and failures, American incapacity to control him. “What magic influence has he over you?” Something illogical in situation where US supporting an incompetent government which had no program of internal reform and whose only policy was to reduce functioning part of Congo to its level. [Page 692] US making serious error of judgment in backing loser, but “I am not going to be forced into the same rotten canoe”.
Spaak might issue communique talking of economic sanctions. Tshombe had saved Belgian women from rape, Belgian property from destruction at independence, but would be Belgians and US stockholders of UMHK who would lose from economic sanctions. “Every bridge, every road, every plant in Katanga will go into the air. Preparations have been ordered and made. I pledge that these steps will be taken whether I am here to order it or not”.
Tshombe said Katangans being treated like slaves, had nothing to lose by destruction European property. Said US would have big relief job on hands like in defeated Germany, would have to feed, clothe Katangans’ repair industry or leave UN sitting in midst desert. Katangans would have more work than ever in rebuilding.
I several times emphasized that US did not want “make war” on Katanga but to see adoption of plan which provided constructive opportunity for future and attempted direct discussion to individual points McGhee letter. Tshombe said Americans knew Gendarmerie would mutiny if he sent Muke to take oath in Léopoldville at this time and this was obvious purpose their insistence this point. Stated ANC this very moment again attacking Kongolo and has again advanced within 2 kilometers of city. Impossible take oath these conditions. Claimed had been repeatedly tricked by UN with regard arrival UN troops in Elisabethville, ANC in Albertville, Kabalo. Why should he allow UN freedom of movement in South Katanga to perform same such game all over again. Kibwe mentioned further UMHK copper shipment (Contel 810)4 showed draft order for dispatch 70 tons to Matadi. Tshombe said he most doubtful value this measure since would be considered as “outside framework of plan” by US and UN, thus valueless. He made same reply to my question on transmitting his draft of constitution. Said whole UN plan was trick and fraud, only US interest was to prop up its puppet Adoula, “sick man of Congo”.
Tshombe showed no inclination to move from current stand pat position, is perhaps waiting for outcome political melee in Léopoldville. His repeated references to destruction of transport and production facilities by the Katangans were delivered in calm but emphatic manner; he several times said UN could get to Kolwezi and Jadotville but long before that facilities would have been destroyed. Most difficult assess his determination this point. Seems doubtful that purely economic [Page 693] measures would provoke Katangan action. Tshombe mentioned “bridges” more frequently than anything else, thus tending confirm assumption Gendarmerie would blow bridges Jadotville and Kolwezi in event UN military advance, but was somewhat less insistent on possibility destruction other facilities (of which Le Marinel and Del Commune dams remain most vulnerable and most important).
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/11–2862. Confidential; Priority. Received at 11:39 a.m. and repeated to Léopoldville, Brussels, and USUN.↩
- See footnote 3, Document 337.↩
- Dated November 27. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/11–2762) It transmitted the text of the joint statement cited in footnote 2, Document 340.↩
- Telegram 810, November 26, reported that, according to the Union Minie re director in Elisabethville, Tshombe had agreed to a UMHK proposal for a further copper shipment via Matadi. (Department of State, Central Files, 870G.25/11–2662)↩