Office of the Historian

367. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo1

Washington, December 17, 1962, 8:34 p.m.

899. For Ambassador only. In view of deterioration in Congo situation, USG determined to support UN reconciliation plan, bolster Adoula and get him to negotiate seriously with Tshombe, pre-empt situation before bloc intervention becomes reality and convince Tshombe of our resolve to secure reintegration.

USG will advise U Thant we are prepared to respond favorably to his request for six armored cars or best substitute US can give airlifted to Elisabethville; thirty trucks airlifted to Elisabethville; and other military equipment and necessary supplies if readily available.

The US is prepared to transport the six Philippine aircraft from Manila to the Congo.

US prepared to consider favorably if U Thant requests further beefing up fighter strength.

USG considering possibility of supplying further military support to UN if advisable.

DOD has secured four million dollar Presidential determination to facilitate rapid build up along lines of Greene plan and military officers [Page 753] will be in Leo early January to promote same. Equipment could begin arriving possibly end of January.

JCS sending senior officer who arriving soonest in order to examine (a) what is necessary to protect American military units operating in Congo and (b) to make firmer estimate of capabilities of UN to carry out program of securing freedom of movement involving Kipushi, Jadotville and possibly later on Kolwezi. Details later.2

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/12–1762. Top Secret; Niact; Eyes Only. Drafted and approved by Williams and cleared in draft by Cleveland, Burdett, Greene, and McGhee. Repeated to USUN and Brussels for Stevenson and MacArthur.↩
  2. Telegram 908 to Léopoldville, December 18, instructed Gullion to see Adoula and request permission for Lieutenant General L.W. Truman and a small party to visit the Congo to survey the U.N. forces’ needs and ability to deal with the tensions over Congo unification. He was to tell Adoula that the mission was a further indication of U.S. determination that the U Thant plan should succeed and that it would assess U.S. ability to help the United Nations in this cause. (Ibid., 770G.5811/12–1862)↩