Office of the Historian

395. Telegram From the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kaysen) to President Kennedy1

Washington, January 1, 1963, 10:05 p.m.

CAP 63006. 1) Try to show this to President soonest, before he calls Ball if possible.

2) Present military situation in Congo is that UN column on way to Jadotville held up at blown bridge about fifteen miles out. UNNY surprised at this operation and has expressed shock to our mission.

3) Tshombe either at Jadotville or Elisabethville and has opened negotiations with UN through British. In Léopoldville Adoula has prorogued parliament and made speech,2initial reports of which are good. It extends opportunity for negotiations and reconciliation to Tshombe.

4) Harlan Cleveland going to Congo tomorrow evening. Rusk and Ball think this excellent idea. Public explanation is senior officer dealing with UN affairs going to see this important UN operation at critical time. Privately Cleveland will convey to Gullion Washington picture of the situation, try to convince Adoula of need for flexibility on his part. Problem now seems to be desire of Gullion, Adoula and Gardiner (UN rep Léopoldville) to push military operations UN. Cleveland knows Gardiner well and has dealt with Adoula before. Appears to all best choice for mission of convincing them of unwisdom of attempt at complete military victory and need for political negotiations. We think Cleveland should have letter from you to Adoula making this point. Draft to be based on text of Adoula speech, just being received, and will be sent down tomorrow noon.3

  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Congo. Secret; Operational Immediate. The message was sent to the President’s Air Force Aide, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh, for the President.↩
  2. In his January 1 speech, Adoula announced that Kasavubu had promulgated an ordinance under Article 69 of the Loi Fondamentale closing the fifth session of Parliament as of January 1. The text was transmitted in telegram 1639 from Léopoldville, January 2. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.13/1– 263)↩
  3. Evidently not sent; see Document 396.↩