Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa

189. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Williams) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy Planning (Rowen)⁰

Washington, April 5, 1961.

SUBJECT

• Military Assistance for African Nations South of the Sahara

A number of African countries south of the Sahara have approached U.S. representatives for military assistance and it is evident that we can expect similar requests from others.

As you know, NSC policy places preliminary dependence for meeting the military needs of the countries in the area upon the former colonial powers. Strict interpretation of this policy reduces our ability to quickly react to requests for assistance or to achieve maximum political benefit. Too often our assistance has been furnished only after the threat, or actual acceptance, of Soviet military assistance. While it is entirely reasonable that Western military assistance to these African countries should be coordinated, the delay experienced in determining the Metropole’s position, the mechanics for coordination with respect to types of equipment and training each country will provide, and the subsequent negotiations with the recipient all tend to retard prompt U.S. response. The ability to react rapidly once a decision has been made to furnish assistance is extremely important to these countries in their current stage of development.

There are other problems that arise with respect to funding of new unbudgeted programs and the establishment of sufficiently high program priority to permit the early delivery of equipment to gain maximum impact of programs which are basically political in nature. At present, our military assistance programs in this area are the result of mounting political pressures and are developed on an ad hoc basis without clear long-term U.S. goals, either from a political or a military point of view.

It would be appreciated if you could undertake to develop a Defense policy position for military assistance to independent nations south of the Sahara which could be utilized by the Joint Staff and this office in evaluating and developing future programs. I would suggest that your analysis treat the Union of South Africa as a separate entity due to its peculiar position.

Haydn Williams

0. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 65 A 3501, Africa 000.1-091.4, 1961. Confidential.