Office of the Historian

104. Memorandum From Alfred T. Wellborn of the Office of the Deputy Director for Coordination, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Department of State, to the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Hilsman)1

Washington, January 11, 1962.

SUBJECT

  • AF Meeting with Agency Representatives January 9, 1962

Present at the meeting were Governor Williams (who left before the end), Mr. Fredericks and Mr. Eisenberg of AF; Messrs. Tweedy, [less than 1 line not declassified] of the Agency; and I.

The Agency representatives reported on the status of the covert action in the Congo program approved by the Special Group on November 22, 1961.2 In brief, the Agency reported modest progress in the face of much difficulty.

1. [12 lines not declassified]

2. Formation of Adoula-led cartel leading to eventual formation of a national political party. [2 lines not declassified] A large part of the problem is that Adoula has no following of his own; he must depend on maneuvering the support he has from leaders with a following. [4 lines not declassified]3

3. [11½ lines not declassified]

4. [6½ lines not declassified]

5. Assist Mobotu to retain the loyalty of key officers. Mobotu continues to receive funds for this purpose.

6. [4½ lines not declassified]

As he left the meeting Governor Williams expressed appreciation for the run down and an understanding of the difficulties facing the Agency in getting on with the program.

  1. Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, AF–CIA 1962. Secret. Sent through Deputy Director for Coordination in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research Joseph W. Scott.↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 100.↩
  3. [text not declassified]↩