327. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate General in Salisbury 0

811. UNIP President Kenneth Kaunda discussed Northern Rhodesian problems with Department officers April 13.1 He appealed for U.S. [Page 516] sympathy and political support, stressed that Welensky’s threat to use force to preserve Federation should not be underestimated and declared that the present Federation must be dissolved before useful discussions can be held concerning practical relationships among the territories. Although outcome of Northern Rhodesian elections in autumn uncertain, Kaunda confident that UNIP would emerge in better shape than any other party.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 745C.00/4-1762. Confidential. Drafted by Dunham on April 16 and approved by Deming. Repeated to London and USUN.
  2. A memorandum of conversation is ibid., 611.45C/4-2662.