242. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1
559. USUN 548 to Dept.2 Evacuation US personnel Stanleyville. Pursuant Sisco–Yost telcon, Yost called Bunche this afternoon to inquire whether SYG had followed up our suggestion yesterday concerning appeal over Ghana, Burundi and Brazzaville radios for evacuation foreigners in Stanleyville.
Bunche was not certain but believed SYG had been so preoccupied with other matters he had not followed through on this one.
We stated in strongest terms that lives of these persons, including UN personnel, are in danger, that appeal by SYG transmitted through these media would be purely humanitarian, not political, action and that we very strongly urged he go forward with it. Bunche replied that UN had of course already attempted to make arrangements directly with rebels without success, that UN is in bad odor with them and he very much doubts appeal even through three countries in question would be successful, and that, moreover, UN relations with two of these countries, Ghana and Burundi, are also in very bad state of repair.
We replied that even if prospects are not bright, situation is so serious that no stone should be left unturned.
Bunche agreed to communicate our views immediately to SYG in Geneva.3
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, PS 7–6 US–THE CONGO. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Leopoldville Priority and Geneva.↩
- Dated August 27. (Ibid.)↩
- Telegram 506 to USUN, August 28, instructed the Mission to urge Bunche or the Secretary-General again in the strongest terms to approach Ghana, Congo (Brazzaville), and Burundi and ask them to bring pressure on the rebels to permit evacuation and to broadcast the Secretary-General’s appeal. (Ibid., POL 23–9 THE CONGO)↩