270. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ghana1
43150. NLC Vice Chairman Harlley met morning September 23 with Under Secretary. He was unaccompanied. AFW Director Melbourne was also present. Conversation was in relaxed atmosphere and lasted some forty minutes.
Harlley expressed appreciation on behalf NLC for help US had given Ghana and asked that message be conveyed to Secretary who [Page 474] engaged in OAS meeting this weekend. Under Secretary replied that US wished that it could do more since Ghana apparently using its assistance well and hoped US could continue what it is doing. There is budget problem however, problem with Congress over extent of aid, and financial burden of Vietnam. Other countries also could do more to help developing countries.
Harlley expressed his understanding of problems facing US and that it seeking to do all it can. He said NLC is appreciative of US role in Vietnam. Ghana in its way wants to try to keep Communist influence from spreading in Africa and is sensitive to what some West African states are doing to let Soviets come in. Ghana was somewhat concerned about Nigeria since regime there had not had experience with Soviets. To Under Secretary’s query concerning Nigeria Harlley replied that at this time best result hoped for by African states would be for Nigerians to stop fighting.
Harlley made passing reference to US aid to Guinea to which Under Secretary responded that amount of assistance was minimal to show Guinean people US interest in their country. US was looking at relations from long range as it had done in completing Volta Dam in Ghana in face of increasingly hostile Nkrumah regime. Harlley appeared satisfied.
Turning to subject of Ghana police, Harlley said there was need for modernizing this force and that requests for various kinds of assistance for whatever could be done would be made through US Ambassador and AID Mission in Accra. He emphasized importance of an effective police in Ghana to which Under Secretary responded by saying that we would examine what requests were received but limitations on US help as mentioned earlier were applicable.
In response to a query regarding the Congo Harlley asserted that Mobutu was under certain pressures to accept Communist aid such as Cuban mercenaries from Brazzaville and he hoped Mobutu would continue to resist. Ghana had lent some pilots to Congo in effort to help. He thought it curious Castro was active in Africa while OAS also trying to contain him in Latin America. Under Secretary interjected that Castro had never done anything for black Cubans and in fact had discriminated against them at home. He speculated that Castro may be using black Cubans in Brazzaville to keep them out of the way.
As for progress toward eventual restoration of civilian government in Ghana, Harlley said Electoral Commission drawing up new constituencies and that new voter lists were needed. Constitutional Commission can proceed to formulate proposals for constitution. By December 1968 he believed election for Constituent Assembly would be near. This Assembly would examine constitutional proposals and if accepted, no referendum would be needed. Country could go straight to general elections under constitution.
[Page 475]Under Secretary observed that introduction civilians into government most helpful to NLC since it necessary for Ghana to use all its available talent. He believed NLC was doing well and it had US good wishes.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 GHANA. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Drafted by Melbourne, cleared by Palmer, and approved by Katzenbach. Repeated to Conakry, Lagos, Kinshasa, London, and CINCSTRIKE.↩