Office of the Historian

39. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Belgium1

Washington, March 1, 1961, 9:11 p.m.

1709. Following based on uncleared memorandum conversation:2 Belgian Ambassador called on Secretary to discuss Congo March 1. His presentation followed largely lines Belgian reply to SYG letter re implementation SC resolution.3 He characterized SYG letter as “harsh” and said some elements Belgian Government wished ignore it. However decision finally made send “cooperative” answer. Scheyven stressed UN prestige low in Belgium and whole affair might become political football during electoral campaign. In recapitulating Belgian reply to SYG, which Belgians have now published, Scheyven stressed point that Belgian advisers should remain until UN replacements available and not withdraw immediately thereby causing chaos in Congo.

Scheyven also expressed distress at SYG letter to Kasavubu of February 274 which he alleged equated Kasavubu Government with Gizenga regime. He likewise made lengthy presentation Belgian position that takeover by Gizenga in Congo might lead to communization Central Africa.

Secretary thought most helpful step Belgians could take from our viewpoint was to effect some departures promptly and give considerable publicity thereto. He added it was obviously not our position that result UN effort should be to aid Gizenga.

Scheyven expressed some indignation that in Belgian view UN efforts had prevented Mobutu from advancing towards Stanleyville. He also claimed Dayal had deliberately suppressed reporting Gizenga massacre political prisoners until after SC debate while reporting Kasai murders immediately, thus inflaming SC atmosphere and “thereby causing US drop its amendments”. Secretary inquired as to Belgian source re murders in Stanleyville and Dayal’s firm knowledge of them. Scheyven said French Consul Stanleyville was source. Further with regard [Page 87] to SC resolution, Scheyven said Soviets had not vetoed it because it advanced their ends.

Finally in response to Secretary’s query, Scheyven said their information, also from French Consul, was to effect eight Belgian soldier prisoners in Stanleyville were still alive.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/3–161. Secret. Drafted by McBride, cleared by Easum, and approved by Cleveland. Also sent to USUN and repeated to Léopoldville and Paris.↩
  2. Drafted by McBride. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Regarding Hammarskjöld’s February 22 note verbale, see footnote 2, Document 38. The Belgian Representative replied in two notes verbales of February 27. (U.N. doc. S/4752, Annex II)↩
  4. This letter is ibid., Annex IV; also printed in Public Papers of the Secretaries-General, vol. V, pp. 371–376.↩