Office of the Historian

Congo, 1960–1968

211. Memorandum for the Files

Washington, August 11, 1964, 12:30 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC Meetings File, Vol. III, Tab 21, 8/11/64, Congo. Secret. Drafted by Brubeck.

212. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 11, 1964, 11:01 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 19–3 US–THE CONGO. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Drafted by Schaufele, cleared by Harriman and Brubeck, and approved by Williams.

213. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 11, 1964, 11:01 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Tasca and O’Sullivan; cleared by Harriman, Brubeck, and Rusk; and approved by Williams. Repeated to Brussels and CINCSTRIKE for Ramsey.

215. Telegram From the Embassy in the Congo to the Department of State

Leopoldville, August 12, 1964, 3 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 19–3 US–THE CONGO. Secret; Flash; Limdis. Received at 11:34 a.m. Repeated to Brussels and CINCSTRIKE and relayed to the White House, DOD, and CIA.

216. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations

Washington, August 12, 1964, 8:47 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Buffum, cleared by Harriman and Tasca, and approved by Sisco. Repeated to Lagos, Leopoldville, Brussels, Addis Ababa, Khartoum, and Tunis.

217. Telegram From the Station in the Congo to the Central Intelligence Agency

Leopoldville, August 12, 1964.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, [text not declassified], Fiche 38, Row 5, Frames 2–4, Tshombe. Secret; Rybat; Priority. Received at 1100Z.

218. Memorandum for the Record

Washington, August 13, 1964.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80B01285A, 303 Committee Meetings (1964). Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Peter Jessup of the NSC Staff on August 14.

219. Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Washington, August 13, 1964.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 82–00450R, Box 6, Folder 3, Willis’ Notes, Working Papers—Congo. Secret. There is no drafting information on the original. A handwritten notation on the paper reads: “Prepared for DCI.”

220. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Harriman) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, August 14, 1964.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Congo, Vol. III. Confidential. The memorandum is attached to a transmittal memorandum from Brubeck to the President which reads: “You asked for the attached progress report from State for today on efforts to get European and other African military help for the Congo. Prospects for help from either source are very dim. However, Belgians are working on a plan for a white mercenary-Congolese force with Belgian officers and we are supporting. Also Tshombe seems to be getting 100 or so South African white mercenaries in next few days. We hope to add some other nationalities to avoid the political problem in Africa of conspicuous South African involvement. We will give you a further report on Monday.” See Document 226.

221. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Rowan) to President Johnson

Washington, August 14, 1964.

Source: Johnson Library, White House Central File, Confidential Files, CO 52: Congo, Republic of (Former Belgian Congo) (1964). Secret.

222. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 14, 1964, 8:28 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by O’Sullivan; cleared by Colonel Gall, Lewis in USIA, Greenfield, Fine, and Tasca; and approved by Harriman. Also sent to USUN, JCS, and CINCSTRIKE for POLAD.

223. Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Washington, undated.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 78–02502R, Box 1, [cryptonym not declassified]/Development & Plans, [text not declassified], Aug. ‘64–Jan. 1967. Secret. There is no drafting information on the original.

224. Memorandum of Conversation

Leopoldville, August 15, 1964.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, AF/CM Files: Lot 67 D 63, Box 1778, Congo. Secret. Drafted by Williams. The conversation was held at Prime Minister Tshombe’s residence in Leopoldville.

225. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 15, 1964, 4:33 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Top Secret; Flash. Drafted by O’Sullivan and approved by Harriman. Repeated to Brussels and CINCSTRIKE for POLAD.

226. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Harriman) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, August 17, 1964.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Congo, Vol. IV. Secret.

227. Telegram From the Embassy in the Congo to the Department of State

Leopoldville, August 19, 1964, 8:44 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Secret; Immediate; Roger Channel.

228. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts

Washington, August 19, 1964, 10:24 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by O’Sullivan, cleared by Albert V. Nyren in AFW and Harriman, and approved by Fredericks. Sent to Leopoldville and repeated to Paris, Brussels, USUN, Brazzaville, Dakar, Tananarive, Monrovia, CINCSTRIKE, Bujumbura, Kigali, and Bamako.

229. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 20, 1964, 11:05 a.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted and approved by Rusk and cleared by Fredericks.

230. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 20, 1964, 2:50 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Secret; Flash. Drafted by O’Sullivan; cleared by Fredericks, Vance, and Brubeck; and approved by Harriman. Repeated to CINCSTRIKE.

231. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ethiopia

Washington, August 20, 1964, 4 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Drafted by Newsom; cleared by Brubeck, Fredericks, and the Congo Task Force; and approved by Harriman. Repeated to Leopoldville.

232. Memorandum From the Acting Chief of the Africa Division, Directorate of Plans, Central Intelligence Agency (Waller) to Director of Central Intelligence McCone

Washington, August 21, 1964.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, DCI/McCone Files, Job 80B01285A, Box 2, DCI (McCone) Memos for the Record, 08 Jul–10 Sept 64. Secret. Sent through the Acting Deputy Director for Plans.

233. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 21, 1964, 8:01 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Confidential; Flash; Limdis. Drafted by Schaufele; cleared by O’Sullivan, Fredericks, Runyan, and Lindsey Grant in M; and approved by Tasca. Repeated to Brussels and to CINCSTRIKE for Ramsey.

234. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 22, 1964, 4:30 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by O’Sullivan; cleared by Fredericks, Tasca, and Grant; and approved by O’Sullivan. Repeated to Brussels.

235. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ethiopia

Washington, August 22, 1964, 4:32 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Newsom, cleared by Williams and Harriman, and approved by Grant. Repeated to Leopoldville, Lagos, and POLAD CINCMEAFSA Tampa.

236. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo

Washington, August 22, 1964, 6:40 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Secret; Priority; Roger Channel. Drafted by O’Sullivan; cleared by Fredericks, Tasca, and Grant; and approved by H. Bartlett Wells in INR.

237. Memorandum for the Record

Washington, August 24, 1964.

Source: National Security Council, Intelligence Files, 303 Committee Files, Minutes—1964. Secret; Eyes Only. Prepared on August 25.

238. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the European Office of the United Nations

Washington, August 24, 1964, 7:05 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, PS 7–6 THE CONGO. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Walker A. Diamanti in AF; cleared by O’Sullivan, Gerald B. Helman of UNP, Alice B. Correll of SCS, and Officer in Charge of Belgian Affairs Allen C. Davis; and approved by Tasca. Repeated to Brussels, Leopoldville, Bujumbura, and Kigali.

239. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to All African Posts

Washington, August 25, 1964, 8:25 p.m.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO. Confidential. Drafted by Newsom, cleared by O’Sullivan, and approved by Tasca.