Office of the Historian

427. Memorandum of Conversation1

Washington, September 9, 1963, 11:30 a.m.

SUBJECT

  • Strategy at the 18th General Assembly

PARTICIPANTS

  • The White House—
  • The President
  • Mr. Bundy
  • Mr. Schlesinger
  • Mr. Sorensen (in part)
  • The Department—
  • The Secretary
  • Ambassador Stevenson
  • Mr. Ball
  • Mr. Harriman
  • Mr. Cleveland, IO
  • Mr. Sisco, UNP
  • Amb. Thompson, S/AL

[Here follows discussion of agenda item 1, which concerned an unrelated matter.]

2. Extension of UNOC.

Ambassador Stevenson outlined the difficulties we are encountering with Secretary-General Thant regarding retention of UNOC for six months beyond the end of this year. The President suggested that he might write to four or five African Prime Ministers. Ambassador Stevenson suggested deferring this matter until he has had a further opportunity for discussion with key Africans, including the Nigerians. The President agreed. He also agreed we should include an appropriate reference in favor of an extension of UNOC in the United States speech before the Assembly.

The President asked whether an OAU Force is not a viable substitute. Mr. Cleveland pointed out that, while such a force might be helpful in the Congo, there is danger that it might be used in other places in Africa, i.e., Angola and Mozambique. Mr. Ball likewise agreed. The President thought we might talk to the Portuguese on this matter with a view to seeing whether they would be willing to talk to the French. He thought the Portuguese might tell the French that the alternative to UNOC extension is an OAU Force which, in turn, carries risks for Portugal in Angola.2

[Here follows discussion of agenda items 4–7, which concerned unrelated matters.]

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 3 UN. Confidential. Drafted by Sisco and approved in S on September 12.↩
  2. Kennedy had raised the subject of the extension of U.N. forces with Rusk in a memorandum of September 6, which noted that Gullion had spoken to him about the importance of keeping U.N. forces in the Congo and asked for ideas on how 3,000 troops could be maintained there beyond December. (Ibid., POL 26 The Congo) A September 13 memorandum from Department of State Executive Secretary Benjamin H. Read to Bundy responded to Kennedy’s memorandum, noting that the problem had been explored at the September 9 meeting and that diplomatic efforts were continuing. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Congo)↩