Office of the Historian

187. Telegram From the Station in the Congo to the Central Intelligence Agency1

Leopoldville, July 3, 1964.

1737 (In 20904). Ref Leop 1731 (In 20700).2

1. Ref meeting not attended by [COS], who temporarily out of action with dysentery. However as background to above, following are [COS] impressions of currents and cross currents among [cryptonym not declassified] during past week. First fact of life is that [Identity 1] and [Mobutu] have obviously committed themselves to course of action which designed put [Identity 2] into Prime Minister job. Second fact of life is [Godley] hostility to [Identity 1] whom he considers evil and basically undemocratic. Third element is (somewhat inept) tactics of [Godley] in beating drums around town on [Identity 3] behalf. Present situation is that all concerned are acutely aware that [Identity 2] may end up as Prime Minister and all concerned are trying hedge bets in case this happens as well as in case it does not happen.

2. Re [Identity 1] and [Mobutu] [Identity 1] has been assiduously repeating to [COS] history of [less than 1 line not declassified] group, citing ODACID basic opposition to [Mobutu] takeover in 1960, with continuing pressure from ODACID to [less than 1 line not declassified] parliament, culminating in recall of Timberlake and in Lovanium reconciliation in July 61. [Identity 1] reminding us of [cryptonym not declassified] charter of August 1961 in which power to be controlled by [cryptonym not declassified] with [Identity 3] [less than 1 line not declassified], as front man as long as he served the purpose. [27 lines not declassified]

3. Re [Godley]. [Embassy] reporting describes fully [Godley] activity in passing on word to [Identity 4], diplomatic colony, and local politicoes, his conviction that [Identity 3] should remain in present job.3 [5 lines not declassified]

[Omitted here is further discussion of the political situation.]

  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 78–00435R, DDO/ISS Files, Box 2, Folder 10, [cryptonym not declassified] Operations. Secret; Rybat; [2 cryptonyms not declassified]; Priority. Received at 0230Z.↩
  2. Not found.↩
  3. In telegram 1813 from Leopoldville, July 8, Cushing reported that during a routine meeting, [name not declassified] had continued to ask for U.S. Government support for Tshombe, and had assured him that the [cryptonym not declassified] group would be capable of “managing” him. (Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 78–00435R, DDO/ISS Files, Box 2, Folder 10, [cryptonym not declassified] Operations)↩