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

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

New York, May 22, 1961, 7 p.m.

3169. Congo. Yost took Godley this afternoon to call on SYG. Hammarskjöld informed them Dayal would not be returning to Congo.²

Decisive actions which have convinced both SYG and Dayal that it would be impossible for latter to return were: (1) hostile and even abusive reception accorded Mekki Abbas when presenting SYG’s letter announcing that return; and (2) subsequent demarche of Acting Foreign Minister to diplomatic corps in same sense.³ Hammarskjöld mentioned that message had been dispatched to Nehru, who had most reluctantly accepted situation. Fortunately, it was clear that he blamed Congolese and not UN for what had occurred.

(Wieschhoff (Secretariat) told us that SYG, Dayal himself and others had struggled with this question until 5 a.m. last Saturday before reaching decision. Dayal is today submitting resignation as special representative.⁴ Dean (UK) informs us that 2 messages were transmitted to Nehru, one from SYG and one from Dayal and Jha jointly. Nehru replied directly and only to Dayal, stating that under circumstances he should return to his national duties.)

In response to our query, SYG said Dayal would be replaced by U Hla Maung, now serving with Secretariat in Iraq. There will be no haste in dispatching him, however, and Linner will carry on in meantime.

SYG expressed strong hope there would be no public gloating on part of Congolese, since such action on their part would increase Indian bitterness.

Comment: Hammarskjöld was obviously sore and unhappy over what he considers outrageous Congolese behavior in this affair. He may, however, be somewhat relieved to have it over with and to have responsibility, in Nehru’s eyes, clearly focused on GOC rather than UN.

It is hoped that Embassy Leo may be able persuade GOC to play this matter in very low key.

Plimpton

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/5–2261. Confidential; Priority; Limited Distribution. Repeated to Léopoldville.
2. Hammarskjöld had informed USUN a few days earlier that he intended to send Dayal back to the Congo for about a month. Telegram 3134 from USUN, May 17, reported that Stevenson and British Representative Sir Patrick Dean had made a joint demarche to Hammarskjöld arguing against this plan but that Hammarskjöld was firm in his intention to send Dayal back. (Ibid., 325.70G/5–1761)
3. Telegram 2348 from Léopoldville, May 20, reported that Acting Foreign Minister Julien Kasongo had summoned the representatives of nine Embassies to hear a statement prepared by the Cabinet Ministers at Coquilhatville concerning Dayal’s proposed return. Kasongo stated that if Hammarskjöld persisted in this plan, future Congolese cooperation would be placed in question and all past agreements would be upset, and he urged the Embassy representatives to intervene with Hammarskjöld to prevent Dayal’s return. (Ibid., 332.70G/5–2061)
4. Hammarskjöld announced on May 25 that Dayal was returning at his own request to his position as Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan. For text of the statement, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, p. 820.