Office of the Historian

277. Letter From President Johnson to Congolese President Kasavubu1

Washington, October 6, 1964.
Dear Mr. President:

I thank you very much for your letter of September 25, regarding the visit to the United States by a delegation from the Ad Hoc Commission of the Organization of African Unity.2

By now you will have heard from Ambassador Godley that in our discussions with the delegation, we have steadfastly stood on the principles that we could not discuss matters affecting the sovereignty of the Congo, including the question of our aid relationship. When this point was accepted by the delegation, a friendly meeting with the Secretary of State was arranged. It is my hope that this meeting demonstrates that the United States intends to abide by international rules respecting national sovereignty and, at the same time, has emphasized the sincerity of the United States Government in offering any appropriate aid to the OAU Commission in the fulfillment of its task.

The United States continues to believe that OAU participation in the search for solutions to the Congo problem, requested by the Congo itself, can be a valuable contribution to the progress of the whole of Africa, I have been pleased to note that your Government has maintained a calm and constructive attitude by indicating its willingness to cooperate fully with the Commission within the terms of its mandate, and [Page 404] by reiterating its earlier invitation to the Commission to visit the Congo.

The Congo’s own efforts augmented by those of the OAU and its other friends will soon, I am sure, assure the restoration of order in the Congo, permitting it to proceed on the vital task of economic and social development. In your efforts to accomplish these objectives, you have my continuing best wishes for success.

Sincerely,

Lyndon B. Johnson3
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 3 OAU. Limited Official Use. A typed notation on the letter reads: “Signed original given to Congo Task Force to dispatch to Embassy. See tel. 664. To Brussels 10/7.” Telegram 664 to Brussels, October 7, transmitted the text of the President’s letter to deliver to Cardoso, who was en route to Leopoldville, noting that a signed copy was being forwarded to Leopoldville. (Ibid., POL 7 AFR)↩
  2. Document 264.↩
  3. Printed from a copy that indicates President Johnson signed the original.↩