204. Memorandum on the Substance of Discussions at the Department of State-Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting0
[Here follow a list of participants at the meeting and agenda item I.]
II. SOVIET PENETRATION OF GUINEA, MALI AND GHANA
General Lemnitzer stated that the JCS were concerned about the trend of political developments in Guinea, Mali and Ghana. Mr. Johnson [Page 309] said that he understood this concern and that he wished to make a few introductory remarks before turning the discussion over to Governor Williams. He pointed out that these countries were very new ones and that they were feeling their way in the world. Under the circumstances it is inevitable that they will swing to and fro like a pendulum in their political leanings. None of them wish to be satellites or vassals of Moscow although they could be unwittingly trapped into such a position. Mr. Johnson said that at the moment Guinea was beginning to swing back to the right from an extreme left position; Mali is swinging to the left while there are signs that Ghana will soon begin a swing back to the right. Governor Williams then made the following comments on the status of developments in the three countries.
Mali—The ruling party organization in Mali controls the actions of the President, and the party is inclined further to the left than is he. We are concerned about a possible drift to the left but are not yet ready to conclude that an irreversible movement in that direction is clearly underway. It is our judgment that leaders in Mali are emotionally and psychologically closer to the Soviet bloc than to the West, but at the same time they intend to balance their commitments and avoid undue dependence on either side. As their maturity develops, we hope that Mali’s leaders will come to realize that the U.S., and the West as a whole, are not hostile to their genuine aspirations for the future development of the new African states.
Guinea—President Toure has publicly accused “Marxist Leninist” groups and their operating centers in Dakar, Paris and Moscow of attempting to overthrow his government. He has expelled the Soviet Ambassador to Guinea, and the Guinean Ambassador to the U.S. has advised the Department confidentially that his government possesses documentary proof that Bloc embassies have been behind the recent difficulties in Guinea. We believe that these recent events will strengthen Guinea’s desire to reduce its dependence on the Bloc and thus present us with increased opportunities over the months to come.
Ghana—We feel that our decision to assist in the financing of the Volta dam project will be helpful through insuring U.S. presence in Ghana and as a demonstration of U.S. interest in the future of Ghana. We also consider that Nkrumah’s Pan-African ambitions will prevent him from going completely under control of the East or the West. The Peace Corps program in Ghana has been highly successful in its first stages, and the Government of Ghana has requested that additional Peace Corps volunteers be assigned.
General Lemnitzer stated that the political situations in the three countries appeared to be improving. General Smith asked if grant aid provision of transport aircraft to Guinea would help to improve our position there. Governor Williams said that he felt that this would be [Page 310] helpful at an appropriate time. He pointed out that Toure had been advised to let us know at any time if we could be of help to him, and he had replied that he would discuss this offer with us in the near future. Governor Williams also noted that the gift airplanes which the President has provided to various African Heads of State have been very well received. Mr. NITZE remarked that the U.S. Ambassador to Guinea had recommended that U.S. assistance in local road building projects would be helpful. Mr. Ferguson said that we would consider this important project when and if Toure turns to us for aid.
[Here follows agenda item III.]
- Source: Department of State, State-JCS Meetings: Lot 70 D 328. Top Secret. The meeting was held at the Pentagon. No drafting information appears on the source text, which bears a typewritten notation that it is a Department of State draft not cleared with the Department of Defense.↩