111. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1

[Omitted here is an item unrelated to Central Africa.]

2. Paris Meeting on Zaire—Under Secretary Newsom has returned from the Paris meeting on Zaire and reports that throughout, the key problem was the French desire to expand the results of the conference—through presentations during the meeting and the press statement to include their goals of a Pan-African Intervention Force and the Giscard Fund.2 After extended negotiations the press statement reflected the views we share with the British, the Germans, and the Belgians. French concerns were partially satisfied by a general reference to wider African problems. In addition, a working group produced a report which calculated Zaire’s requirement for urgent imports over the next three months at some $55 million for food, petroleum, and medicines alone. The group was unable to calculate the requirement for spare parts but it is probably in the neighborhood of $5–15 million. There was a firm consensus on the need to press Mobutu for reforms which would be necessary if foreign assistance is to be forthcoming and effective.

The French made an appeal to all present to assist with the ongoing support of the African Force in Shaba. No commitments were made in Paris, but this issue of medium-term support for the African Force will bedevil us in the weeks ahead.

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 20, Evening Reports (State) 6/78. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum.
  2. In telegram 17965 from Paris, June 6, the Embassy reported on the details of the June 5 Paris meeting and the debate on the press statement. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780236–0553) Giscard proposed a Special Fund for African Development, which became known as the Giscard Fund, at a Franco-African summit held in May 1976. For the Ford administration position on Giscard’s proposal, see Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. E–6, Documents of Africa, 1973–1976, Documents 46, 49, 52, and 54.