420. Telegram From the Embassy in the Congo to the Department of State1
2573. Re Deptel 1516.2 In call on Adoula this morning stressed conviction of USG that release of Gizenga would do him perhaps fatal harm at present delicate juncture and would moreover cause difficulty in USG, with US public opinion, and elsewhere abroad. After general discussion of possible alternatives to his release, Adoula said he planned: (1) call on Kasavubu, who had yesterday seen some of parliamentarians who were behind scheduled interpellation of Adoula and others on Gizenga matter; (2) propose to same parliamentarians that they name delegation to visit Gizenga at his present detention place, in company of medical team, which would then submit report which would have be [Page 852] reviewed, etc. He said important thing was to appease opposition, which might if not satisfied reunite and censure ministers or pass no confidence vote against govt. He hoped that these tactics would lead to gaining time until parliamentary vacation began around April 24. (In new twist of Congolese logic, he is now interpreting Loi Fondamentale to require 50-day session from March 4, i.e. half of 100 days provided by Article 69.) He is hopeful medical team might find that Gizenga required change of climate (i.e., treatment in Europe). I suggested USSR or bloc but he made no response.
Adoula pointed out that there was no legal way he could prevent Gizenga from returning to Congo should he go abroad as right entry to Congolese citizen guaranteed by Loi Fondamentale. He noted that this was type of problem which was a price paid for democratic institutions and added in obvious reference to Struelens that in US, because of same reason, it seems impossible deport even an alien.
Throughout conversation Adoula was quite relaxed and did not seem bothered that USG had not been able to suggest solution with all advantages and no disadvantages. He seemed most preoccupied over differentiation which he obliged to make in interpellation between Gizenga, who being held under administrative detention, and Tshombists, who enjoy protection of Kasavubu amnesty proclamation even from obvious criminal offenses which they have committed and for which, he added as he has said before, they could be tried by criminal courts.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 29–1 The Congo. Secret; Operational Immediate. Repeated to USUN, Conakry, Brazzaville, Elisabethville, and Stanleyville.↩
- Telegram 1516, April 9, replied to telegram 2546 from Léopoldville, April 6, which reported that Adoula had asked Charge James L. O’Sullivan to ascertain the U.S. attitude toward a plan he was considering to deport Gizenga “possibly to an African country,” with prior assurance that Gizenga would not be permitted to return for several weeks. Telegram 1516 listed several alternatives in order of preference: to “maintain Gizenga in his present status,” his voluntary departure for the Soviet Union or another Soviet bloc country (if that could be arranged), prolonged expulsion to another African country, house detention on the Congolese mainland, and unconditional release. The Department considered that the last three alternatives carried disadvantages and the last “would be most inopportune and unfortunate.” (Both ibid.)↩