365. Editorial Note
Following an extraordinary meeting in Nairobi on November 27 and 28, 1964, the OAU Ad Hoc Commission issued a communiqué on November 28 strongly condemning foreign military intervention in the Congo by the Governments of the United States, Belgium, United Kingdom, and all other countries who made such intervention possible. It recommended that the OAU Secretary General call an extraordinary meeting of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa on December 18. The Commission also agreed to make an interim report to the Secretary General requesting that steps be taken to effect: A) withdrawal of all mercenaries; B) an immediate end to foreign military intervention; C) a cease-fire; D) granting of a general amnesty; E) sending an Ad Hoc Commission fact-finding party; F) a round table conference of all Congolese leaders from all parties under OAU auspices; and G) holding free elections throughout the Congo supervised by the OAU. (Telegram 1484 from Nairobi, November 30; National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 THE CONGO)
On November 28, the Department issued a press release rejecting the Commission’s charge that it had intervened militarily in the Congo and reiterating its previous statements that the United States participated in the rescue missions to Stanleyville and Paulis for purely humanitarian reasons and with the authorization of the Government of the Congo. (Circular telegram 1053; ibid.)