Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIV, Africa

196. Memorandum From Ulric Haynes of the National Security Council Staff to Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff¹

Washington, May 18, 1965.

RWK

SUBJECT

• Replies to “Soapy’s” Depcirtel on “New Policy for Africa”²

Here’s the weighty thinking of our Ambassadors in Africa on what a “New Policy for Africa” should constitute.

With a few exceptions (i.e., Attwood in Nairobi, Korry in Addis), the replies to “Soapy’s” telegram did not provoke any new ideas or provide any new insights. The more interesting telegrams are at the top of the pile, marked with a red “X” in the upper lefthand corner.

A breakdown follows of recurrent themes and significant points raised in the replies:

Political

(1) US policy should be “more positive” in its approach to the problems of Southern Africa.

(2) Best evidence of LBJ’s personal interest in Africa would be a tour of Africa by the Vice President, Mrs. Johnson and daughters or Secretary Rusk.

(3) A major shortcoming of US policy in Africa is its “proclivity toward over-close association and identification with traditional conservative leaders” to the exclusion of the Young Turks.

AID

(1) AID should be used as a political weapon with the major assist-ance going to African friends of the US.

(2) AID procedures should be simplified and sped up to meet requirements peculiar to Africa.

(3) Future AID programs for Africa should be regional or multinational in orientation. Special consideration should be given to developing a continent-wide telecommunications and transportation network.

(4) US should make a sizeable grant to the African Development Bank as soon as it is established.

(5) US foreign assistance should be re-channelled into an international consortium approach in which the UK, Western Europe, the Commonwealth Nations and others are represented. In any case, there should be greater coordination between Free World foreign assistance programs.

(6) AID should explore the use of counterpart funds for development purposes in Africa.

Education

(1) The US should support more local vocational training in Africa.

(2) US should establish a scholarship program for secondary school education in African countries (as distinguished from abroad).

Psychological

(1) US public concern for the Cold War (“Chicom threat”, etc.) should be downplayed in Africa.

“Wild!”

(1) US should distribute the National Geographic magazine throughout Africa as it does an excellent job of presenting “the US image.” (Ambassador Dumont, Burundi).

Rick Haynes ³

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Haynes Files, CHRONO (Haynes), 3/1/65–6/15/66. Secret.
2. Circular telegram 2156, May 6, to African posts noted that the President wanted the Department to undertake a new and critical look at overall African policy, including a country-by-country review, and to evaluate existing programs with a view to reforming and improving them and eliminating unnecessary operations. The telegram requested that chiefs of mission respond by May 10 if possible. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 1 AFR–US)
3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.