79. Memorandum From the Chief of the Africa Division, Directorate of Plans, Central Intelligence Agency (Tweedy) to the Deputy Director of Plans, Central Intelligence Agency (Bissell)1
SUBJECT
- Summary of [less than 1 line not declassified] Documents
From the documents found in the briefcase [less than 1 line not declassified] has cabled selected full texts, all of which are in French. English summaries of these texts follow below. We anticipate receiving the documents themselves through VIP pouch by 10 April.
1. Three interesting notes on Mulele’s Moscow trip in early March:
a. In regard to military assistance, the Soviets promise arms for 25,000 of Gizenga’s men. A test delivery of arms will be sent to Stanleyville via Accra following verbal instructions to Gizenga. Two or three security experts will come to advise Gizenga, and the Soviets suggest a loyal cadre of eight to ten young Congolese be formed to undergo training by these experts. Necessary equipment for the embryonic security service will be forwarded as soon as communications are opened.
b. In regard to diplomatic action, the African States recognizing Gizenga’s government should take action together against the Sudan’s refusal to grant transit rights to province Orientale, and the signatories to the resolutions of the Casablanca Conference in early January should put their troops with the UN Forces in the Congo at the disposal of the Gizenga regime.
c. In regard to general Soviet support of Gizenga, the USSR will give all aid necessary as soon as transit rights can be arranged: This is the responsibility of the African leaders, particularly Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Nasser, Modibo Keita and Hassan II. Furthermore, the Soviet Government
1. Which had agreed to put at the disposal of Stanleyville 6 L 12 planes, agrees to replace these with two to four IL–18’s. As soon as transit rights are granted, these planes will be en route to Stanleyville.
2. Will deliver immediately a 30 KW 7 ton radio and within two months will deliver a 150 KW station to be set in operation by Soviet technicians.
[Page 106]3. Promises 150 scholarships for the USSR People’s Friendship University.
4. Guarantees immediate financial aid in a new proposal carried to Gizenga verbally.
5. Assures that military training is immediately available in the USSR for any number of Gizenga’s men.
2. Notes of the final decision of the Czech Government in regard to its posture vis-à-vis Gizenga. Based on Mulele’s conversations in Prague 14–15 March, this document states that a five man diplomatic mission will be accredited to Stanleyville with a Congolese delegation welcomed in Prague and that there will be on 18 March the simultaneous announcement in Prague and Cairo of a commercial accord between Stanleyville and the Czech Government which will assist in forcing the Sudanese blockade. The Czechs told Mulele that when the accord is followed by contracts between a Czech company and a genuine firm in Stanleyville, it is a mere formality to demand that the Sudan Government allow transit of goods. The Czechs will also continue their efforts to establish a Congolese air line, based in Stanleyville, and the creation of an air link between Prague–Cairo–Khartoum–Stanleyville and/or Prague–Cairo–Red Sea–Addis Ababa–Uganda–Stanleyville. The Czechs also promise immediate financial aid, the details of which will be relayed to Gizenga verbally.
3. A message from J. Messena, former Minister of Labor in the Lumumba government, sent via Mulele for Gizenga. Datelined 19 February, Bulunga, it is essentially a request for funds and weapons to recruit and arm a private army of 20,000 men in the Kwilu–Kwongo area to replace the UN contingents now there.
4. Some propositions for military aid to the Stanleyville regime, datelined 16 March, Cairo, [1 line not declassified]. This recommends the formation of a special two to four man office, including one aide from the UAR and separate from the diplomatic mission yet under the control of Mulele, to study but not implement all possible methods for transporting military equipment into Orientale province. Also proposed is the establishment of a short wave radio link between Stanleyville and Cairo and Stanleyville and Europe, the creation of liaison (personal messengers) between Stanleyville and friendly elements throughout the Congo, the enlistment of a group of military specialists (some from Europe) who will organize Congo-wide operations and the formation of an underground cadre for action in Leopoldville province.
5. In a letter from Andre Eduard Kanza to Gizenga, datelined 23 March, Cairo, Kanza reveals that the position of the “Nationalists” in Leopoldville is very difficult and that his father, Daniel Kanza, is holding his political party together but desperately needs funds. Andre Kanza has had several secret meetings in Leopoldville with various sympathizers, at one of which Kimvay and Kamitatu were present. [Page 107] Andre Kanza states that he decided it was now necessary to pretend to Kamitatu and Kimvay that he was with the “puppets” and to aver that he himself would attempt to interfere with the effectiveness of Gizenga’s activities.
6. A copy of a long, undated letter from Argiry Emmanuel (a Greek Communist long linked with leftist Congolese circles) to Pierre Mulele in Cairo outlining a variety of proposals for establishing secure transportation and mail channels between Stanleyville and the outside world.
According to the list of documents cabled from [less than 1 line not declassified], there should be several more interesting pieces of information. All that has been reported to date confirms, or is identical with, documents obtained [less than 1 line not declassified] from [less than 1 line not declassified] the Mulele mission.
Chief, Africa Division
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 78–01450R, DDP Subject Files, Box 1, Folder 7, Area Activity—Africa. Secret.↩