Office of the Historian

3. Memorandum From the Chief of the Africa Division, Directorate of Plans, Central Intelligence Agency (Tweedy) to the Deputy Director for Plans, Central Intelligence Agency (Bissell)1

Washington, April 1, 1960.

SUBJECT

  • Request for Assistance in Congo Elections

1. At the request of Jim Penfield we went over to see State at 10:30 a.m. Present were Assistant Secretary Satterthwaite, Deputy Assistant Secretary Penfield, Director Office of Middle and South African Affairs Ferguson.

2. The topic presented is fairly completely covered in our outgoing cable.2

3. Satterthwaite said that he had replied to his callers that he would inquire in one or two places as to what could be done. Ferguson said that in an earlier conversation Dhanis3 had asked whether or not the [Page 7] Agency could not assist. Our hand clearly would show as far as they are concerned.

4. On the point as to why Belgian financial interests, with much obviously at stake, were not in the fray, Ferguson thought that this was in part a good example of Belgian thrift in getting the other fellow to do it and that the Union Miniere was probably already supporting the Conakat. The Conakat is a regional party consisting of Africans and Europeans who stand for separatism for the Katanga. It has been under the domination of the Union Miniere.

5. Our feeling is that there is so much at stake in preventing the placing of Lumumba in a prominent role, especially becoming the Minister of the Interior (he has already taken over Justice and the Surete) that although we admittedly do not have great resources we should make every effort possible.4

B Tweedy
Chief, Africa Division
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 64–00352R, DDO/ISS Files, Box 1, Folder 7, AF Division, 1960. Confidential.↩
  2. Not found.↩
  3. Baron Dhanis, Belgian Congo Affairs Counselor at the Belgian Embassy in Washington.↩
  4. A handwritten notation by Tweedy at the bottom of the memorandum reads: “P.S. Irrespective of any Belgian financial support, it is most important that some CS money and influence get in there quick! BT.”↩