Office of the Historian

368. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State1

Manila, October 27, 1966, 0220Z.

4645. Secto 23. For Acting Secretary From Secretary. Regarding Mathews’ recommendations2 summarized in Special Summary 18,3 I think we should be very careful about nominating ourselves as the supervisor of Nigerian federal unity. I do not object to full persuasion in presenting to the East the great advantages to them of remaining in the federation. I would not, however, start applying threats or sanctions of US initiatives as a means of pressure. The proposed West Indian Federation and East African Federation did not come off. French-speaking Africa broke up into far more units than we expected or hoped for. Singapore broke away from Malaysia. We regret all such divisiveness but it is not up to us to go around telling people how they should solve such problems under pressure of US sanctions. I hope the East will not secede; I hope that we can persuade Mfukwu and Gowon to get together. But if anyone is to go beyond persuasion into actual measures, the British and their fellow Commonwealth members should be way out in front.4

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–9 NIGERIA. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Passed to the White House.↩
  2. Telegram 3120 from Lagos, October 26, reported Mathews’ recommendations that he be authorized to inform Ojukwu that in the event of a unilateral secession the East could expect neither recognition nor support from the U.S. Government and that, unless Ojukwu could give assurances that the East would not secede, U.S. citizens would be advised to leave the East and U.S. Government programs would be suspended there. (Ibid., POL 15 NIGERIA)↩
  3. Special Summary No. 18, transmitted as Tosec 96 to Manila, October 26, reported Mathews’ recommendations and his belief that political and economic sanctions could be effective in thwarting any secession attempt. (Ibid., S/S Conference Files: Lot 67 D 586, Box 59)↩
  4. Telegram 73734 to Lagos, October 26, sent prior to the receipt of this cable, stated reservations about Mathews’ proposed actions, including the threat of the evacuation of U.S. nationals and the curtailment of the AID programs, and stated that any approach to the FMG or to Ojukwu should be coordinated with the British. (Ibid., Central Files, POL 15 NIGERIA)↩