258. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo1
673. Embtel 1060.2 While we are glad to learn that Belgian Emboff has been able to reach Stan, we believe you would be justified in expressing your surprise to Belg Embassy at apparent absence of advance coordination with you. This particularly hard to understand in light US-Belgian cooperation on Congo matters and Belgian knowledge of our deep concern over our personnel in Stan.
Hope Belg Emb will provide advance notice any further such trips and that Embassy Brussels will take early opportunity express our surprise and stress our desire for closest consultation this matter. Also appreciate knowing how Nothomb got to Stan and how and when he plans return Leo. Also how message sent.
Can you find out whether Nothomb trip related Gbenye’s talks with Belgians?
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, PS 7–6 THE CONGO. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Drafted by AFC Deputy Director Mathew J. Looram and Curtis C. Strong, cleared by McKillop, and approved by Palmer. Also sent to Brussels.↩
- In telegram 1060 from Leopoldville, September 14, Godley reported a telephone conversation with the Belgian Ambassador, who told him that he had received several “long” messages from a Belgian Embassy official who had been in Stanleyville and who had reported that all of the persons the Ambassador had inquired about were all right. The Ambassador believed that “all” persons included the Americans, but was not sure. (Ibid.)↩