516. Telegram From the Embassy in the Congo to the Department of State1
388. 1. After careful consideration this morning in light situation here, Lubumbashi, and elsewhere, I must with deep regret take action of calling forth C–130s as authorized State 3420.2 I cannot conceive of any other alternative available to me which would:
A. Encourage Mobutu and assist him effectively in cleaning up present situation so that we can begin get country back to normal and resume forward progress. Although excesses of ANC are ghastly, in long run our presence here cannot but be advantageous to Europeans, and to reject Mobutu request especially after it had been publicized would undoubtedly further endanger entire foreign community.
B. Give encouragement and modicum protection to large American colony in what remains highly tense situation.
2. Therefore, with respect State 3420, I would like to call forward C–130s with hope they could proceed from [garble—Ascension] immediately.
3. I will notify Mobutu as soon as possible.
4. Press aspect covered separately.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 19 US–THE CONGO. Secret; Flash; Limdis. Received at 5:16 a.m. Also sent to CINCSTRIKE and Brussels and passed to the White House, DOD, CIA, USIA, NSA, COMAC, and CINCLANT.↩
- Telegram 3420 to Kinshasa, July 9, authorized the Ambassador to call forward the C–130s at his discretion by Flash request to the Department. (Ibid.)↩