CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY: CONGO

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00202789
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 5, 2016
• Case Number: F-2014-02699
• Publication Date: May 25, 1961

Approved for Release: 2016/07/05 C00202789
anTeAtik
SECRET
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
WEEKLY
SUMMARY
COPY NO. 77
OCI NO 0281/61
25 May 1961
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCEDmumENT NO. al "3*
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Approved for Release: 2016/07/05 C00202789
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
At this stage, rebel ter-
orism may present a less serious
problem for the French Govern-
ment than the continuing activ-
ity of right-wing extremists in
France. There is reason to be-
lieve that the networks of
plotters conspiring against De
Gaulle and his policies have
not yet been fully exposed.
Bombings have continued in
France and have even been
stepped up in Algeria; distri-
bution of threatening letters
and pamphlets put out by right-
ist extremists goes on. Such
activity may be further stimu-
lated by the trial of the insur-
gent generals which opens on 29
May. Discontent within the army
is still widespread. As the
Evian negotiations proceed, the
frustration of the rightist ex-
tremists may prompt some of them
to make an assassination at-
tempt on De Gaulle as a last
desperate effort to prevent Al-
gerian independence.
Soviet Attitudes
Soviet news media, while
welcoming the start of negotia-
tions, have cautioned that the
French stand will determine
whether the Algerian problem
will be solved by "peaceful
means or otherwise." Bloc com-
mentators predict that the talks
will be "difficult and tense."
Moscow has long maintained
that only direct talks between
the rebels and the French on a
basis of equality can restore
peace to Algeria. In March,
following the announcement that
talks would be held, the Soviet
ambassador in Paris sought out
De Gaulle to express Khrushchev's
hope for a peaceful settlement.
At the same time, Soviet First
Deputy Premier Kosygin tried to
stiffen the rebels' resistance
to any compromise with France,
advising them to demand recog-
nition as the sole represent-
atives of Algeria.
While there are advantages
for he USSR in a continu-
ation of the rebellion, So-
viet leaders at the present
time are probably inclined
to support a settlement, pro-
vided the rebels can emerge
from the negotiations in
coPtrQl of an inde-
pendent Algeria, with limited�
if any, ties with France. (SECRET)
CONGO
The government in Leopold-
ville has remained firm in its
decision to reconvene parlia-
ment there, although the Stan-
leyville regime continues to
demand that it meet at Kamina.
Kasavubu appears to regard Gi-
zenga's claim to represent the
legal government as ruling out
any compromise. The Leopold-
ville radio has said the Congo
crisis is "in its final stages"
and has warned that "no delaying
tactics will prevent. . .the
convocation of parliament" by
Kasavubu.
25 May 61
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
In contrast, there are in-
dications that Leopoldville may
be negotiating with Tshombe's
successors to assure Katanga's
participation in parliament. The
Munongo triumvirate in Katanga
reportedly has indicated that
it is prepared to accept a Congo
federation as proposed by Kasa-
vubu. A Congolese politician
has informed Ambassador Timber-
lake that the Kasavubu govern-
ment has received a proposal
from Munongo and is drafting a
counterproposal.
Leopoldville probably feels
that its success in blocking
the return of UN representative
Dayal to the Congo has strength-
ened its hand. Hammarskjold
informed US officials on 22 May
that Dayal would not be
returned to Leopoldville be-
cause of the latest expressions
of Congolese hostility toward
him. Hammarskjold stated
that Nehru had been informed
and had agreed to recall
Dayal.
The Stanleyville regime--
confronted with the political
threat of a rapprochement be-
tween Leopoldville and Elisa-
bethville and with deteriorat-
ing economic conditions in
Orientale Province--has moved
to bolster its military position.
According to press reports,
troops from Stanleyville have
appeared in force in Kasai Prov-
ince. There is no firm in-
formation that Gizenga plans
any major offensive action.
Reports of military activ-
ity in Kasai appear to have led
Kasavubu to place Albert Kalonji
under surveillance in Coquil-
hatville. A UN report has al-
leged that aggressive movements
by Kalonji's Kasai army against
tribal opponents followed a
build-up financed by a Belgian
mining company. Ghanaian UN
troops, which recently were
withdrawn from southern Kasai,
have been ordered back into the
area.
Indian Charg�ahman in
Leopoldville, who on his own
Initiative has labored actively
on Gizenga's behalf, stated re-
cently that he did not believe
Gizenga had enough votes in
parliament to become premier.
Rahman speculated that if Gizen-
ga persisted in seeking the pre-
miership he would merely weaken
the "nationalist" position and
pave the way for a dictatorship
by some member of the present
Leopoldville government.
Relations between the UN
and Katanga authorities have
continued strained as a result
of UN moves to retain control,
by force if necessary, of key
areas in northern Katanga. Al-
though Munongo threatened armed
resistance if the UN moved to
take over airfields at Albert-
ville and Nyunzu, he confined
himself to a formal protest
of the UN action and appeared
anxious to avoid a serious
rupture with the UN Command.
(SECRET NOFORN)
25 May 61
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