431. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Read) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1
SUBJECT
- Situation in the Congo
- 1)
- During Adoula’s visit to the United States centrifugal forces seemed to be at work within the Congolese Government and there were reports of plans for various groupings to take over the Government. At the same time, leaders of the left-wing opposition escaped from jail and made their way to Brazzaville. Their colleagues, reportedly with assistance from bloc embassies were urging the people to follow the example of Brazzaville and throw out the Adoula Government. The school teachers’ union went on strike and its leaders, together with those of the other major unions, called for the replacement of the present Government by a politically neutral government of “Public Safety” pending elections next year.
- 2)
- While probably not of significance in the current political maneuvers in Léopoldville, a substantial number of ANC troops at the Luluabourg garrison mutinied during the week of October 14. They arrested and beat their officers. The mutiny was finally put down by Minister of Defense Anany, who indicated it had been sparked by leftist parliamentarians who were assisted “by certain Embassies”.
- 3)
- On Adoula’s return, members of his cabinet presented for approval a “state of exception” decree. The decree was then signed by Kasavubu and put into effect on October 21. It imposed, in effect, martial law in Léopoldville and established a ministerial committee of three (Defense, Anany; Interior, Maboti; and Justice, Bomboko) to administer it.
- 4)
- Labor union demands became more insistent for wage increases and a change of government. They apparently thought that Adoula, an ex-labor leader, would be more receptive than the other members of his government. Adoula was under great pressure to initiate talks with the union leaders. In addition to the teachers’ strike, other unions called for a general strike on October 23. The strike call was not universally heeded and failed. Nevertheless, Anany arrested both first and second level leaders of the labor unions. Ambassador Gullion is doing what he can to arrange for their release.
- 5)
- Anany has informed Gullion he will expel all Bloc diplomatic representatives (USSR, Poland, Bulgaria, Czech), except Yugoslavia, due to their “meddling” in Congo politics.
Conclusion:
The events of the last two weeks have enhanced Anany’s position considerably. All of the major moves have been at his initiative and have, thus far, been successful. None of the moves seem to be directed against Adoula but the trend of events leaves Adoula on the sidelines with the initiative and control in other hands. It is impossible to forecast the effect of these events on the structure and personalities of the Congolese Government. Externally, the arrest of the labor leaders will cause the Congolese Government many difficulties both in the United States and elsewhere. By the same token, the expulsion of the bloc embassies will tend to identify the Congolese Government with the West and thus make it a target for criticism from the more “neutralist” of the Afro-Asian countries.2
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Congo. Confidential. Filed with a memorandum of October 29 from Brubeck to Bundy.↩
- Brubeck’s memorandum (see the source note above) stated that it might be useful to have a meeting with the President on the Congo soon to consider whether to support Adoula, turn to the potential new “strong man” Anany, or “stay out and let the dust settle.” With respect to the Soviet bloc Embassies, it commented that the Congolese could more usefully “reduce bloc staffs to the point of impotence without stirring up issues of cold war politics.” No record of a meeting with the President on the Congo in late October or November 1963 has been found, but see Document 432.↩
- Hilliker signed for Read.↩