Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XX, Congo Crisis

409. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State¹

New York, January 10, 1963, 9 p.m.

2684. Congo. USUN 2673²and 2676.³ Mission officers saw Rikhye 6:00 p.m. today to be brought up to date on latest developments. Rikhye said Ethiopian battalion accompanied by six APCs had arrived at Mokambo and were camped for night two kilometers beyond town. Tshombe had returned to Eville and UN had report from unofficial source that he was saying that any UN advance beyond Mokambo was subject to negotiation with him. Rikhye did not know whether this was authentic report. In any event orders had been given to troops to take off at dawn for Sakania.

Rikhye said that in telex talk with Gardiner this pm SYG had made clear his view that there was no present basis on which to restrict Tshombe. He had directed that ONUC take no further steps with respect Tshombe which might confuse situation. Rikhye said that both Prem Chand and Mathu were of opinion that there was no reason to restrict Tshombe. Gave Mission officers copy of press release just being issued which gives UN position this point. Release fol by septel.

Rikhye said SYG had made very clear in his telex with Gardiner that he wants arrangements similar to those which assisted UN to proceed to Mokambo to be made with Tshombe through some intermediary for UN entry into Kolwezi. Gardiner commented that he thought use of Consuls had been overdone. SYG replied that he did not care who made arrangements but Gardiner must find some intermediary. Said that since Gardiner had refused contact with Tshombe, Gardiner must get someone else to do job.

When Mission officer asked why Gardiner objected to employment of Consuls as intermediaries, Rikhye said that Gardiner charged they were acting in their own interests. SYG had retorted to this that he did not care why Consuls had acted, point was that Kolwezi must be entered without destruction of facilities and properties.

At this point, Kebede had intervened on telex to say that only obstacles facing his men on march on Kolwezi were demolition and light fire. SYG again said that demolition was exactly what he wanted prevent. All he wanted do was get to Kolwezi without destruction being carried out. Tshombe appeared somewhat helpful and UN must take advantage of this.

SYG also said that Tshombe should be persuaded to go by air or road with UN into Kolwezi. He instructed that anything useful Tshombe said should be put out over radio. Gardiner terminated conversation by saying he understood SYG’s policy and would do his best to carry it out.

Rikhye explained he proposed that first plane into Kolwezi, if that method adopted, should carry Tshombe and perhaps one of Consuls, together with senior UN military officer. Second plane, which would land immediately after, would carry company of soldiers who would assure safety of first group.

Rikhye said that controls on Kolwezi road still operating on “probe and edge” orders. SYG had pointed out in cable, however, that probing and edging operation thus far, even though it had met little resistance, appeared have resulted in demolition of bridges. Despite this he had not called operations off.

Comment: There appears to be some ambiguity in UNNY instructions to field on this point but apparently SYG, while leaving considerable local option, is depending on his instructions prevent demolition to curb advances which would cause unnecessary damage.

Plimpton

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/1–1063. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Léopoldville, Elisabethville, Brussels, London, and Paris.
2. Telegram 2673, January 10, reported that Rikhye had told USUN officers that the British and Belgian Consuls in Elisabethville had persuaded Tshombe to make a public statement that the principal purpose of his presence in Elisabethville was the total application of the Thant plan and that he would assist U.N. forces to proceed to Sakania on the Rhodesian border. He had so stated at his January 9 press conference but under questioning had made other statements which the press had highlighted. See footnote 2, Document 407. Nevertheless, Prem Chand and Mathu had arranged for him to precede a U.N. column to Sakania and instruct the gendarmes to cooperate. U Thant had accordingly instructed Gardiner not to arrest Tshombe unless he made further inflammatory statements. (Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/1–1063)
3. Telegram 2676, January 10, reported that Rikhye had expressed optimism that U.N. forces might reach Kolwezi within 2 days, with or without Tshombe’s cooperation. (Ibid.)