64. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations1
2211. Re USUN’s 3067.2 Department appreciates your timely and full reporting on SYG’s views regarding current Congo developments. However, we continue to be perplexed by at least one aspect of current situation and there is apparent divergence on one important point between our analysis of situation and Hammarskjöld’s.
[Page 136]It is not clear from your conversation with SYG whether and how he believes he can use imprisonment of Tshombe, UN’s new relationship with central government, and Munongo’s apparently more relaxed attitude towards UN to secure reintegration of Katanga into Congo. We assume this remains central objective for Hammarskjöld as it does for us, and we hope he is thinking of ways of providing appropriate replacements for Belgians in military and political advisory fields in Katanga. In further discussions with SYG on this subject, hope you can make clear our desire to cooperate with him to implement resolutions on unity and integrity of Congo and to elicit from him some concrete indication of his plans.
Major point of difference with his analysis relates to his estimate of Gizenga’s situation. We do not believe Gizenga has lost strength in recent weeks. We consider him completely responsive at present to foreign direction; he has not made serious mistakes; Lundula’s position has eroded vis-a-vis Gizenga; and one of latter’s assets is that everyone underestimates his capabilities. We do not believe we can afford to let Orientale slip away from the Congo. Means must be found to bring Orientale within central government purview as well as Katanga. We have always understood Feb. 21 resolution should be implemented equitably throughout the Congo and we would like to know what plans he has developed to effect elimination of foreign advisers, mercenaries, etc. from eastern provinces.