WASHINGTON AND AFRICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73-00475R000400660004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2014
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: February 25, 1965
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

;TAT,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/01/06 : CIA-RDP73-00475R000400660004-8
FEBRUARY 25, 1965
Washington and Mn
While most eyes are on Vietnam, Washington is in a state of quiet gloom about
Africa. There is a feeling there that virtually all news will be bad news. At the same
time every crumb of comfort is seized upon in the way of apparent African rebuffs to
the Chinese, or, for instance, the conference held at Nouakchott from February loth to
12th, at which 13 French-speaking African states, surprisingly including Congo-
Brazzaville, affirmed their support for the legitimate government of the Congo-
Leopoldville. Among some officials there persists a remarkable degree of sympathy
for leaders such as presidents Nyerere and .even Nkrumah.
The reason for this moderation in the midst of gloom is plain: to take a tough line
might mean adding further African commitments to the appalling burden that Asia
already imposes. As so often, the differences of opinion between Washington officials
reflect the differences of responsibility. The State Department's African experts have
to think of getting along with Africa; the President and others have to think both of the
world as a whole and of internal American opinion.
The lines of thought on key issues run thus ?
? Tshombe and the Congo. By and large Washington believes that acceptance
of Mr. Tshombe as a fact of life by the Organisation of African Unity
would be the first ,step toward getting rid of those things the OAU most
dislikes' about him, such as his white mercenaries. But it is doubted that
the OAU will come round to this view. There is the usual hawk-dove
dispute about what should be done about it: the State Department
doves, headed by Mr. Mennen Williams, the assistant secretary for
African affairs, like to encourage themselves with the thought that.
things may after all be on the upturn. The supply of arms to the rebels
is believed to be drying up; it is surmised that the Sudanese and
Ugandans may have decided the price is too high if it means fighting
near their own borders, or the possibility of arms falling into the hands
of malcontents in their countries. Some officials believe the rebels are
now split among themselves and are losing the popular support in the
'eastern Congo that they formerly enjoyed. It is also suggested that Mr.
Kasavubu rather than Mr. Tshombe may after all prove to be the
strong man of the Congo, and that, Tshombe or no Tshombe, Kasavubu
will eventually make things up with the OAU.
-1.
This line of thought suggests a policy of moderation (and the
alleged involvement of the CIA in arms shipments to Africa has
increased the unhappiness of those who think the United States is already
too closely identified with Tshombe). ISLA to some extent it depends on.
the continuance in his present post of Mr. Williams, who may be called
back to Michigan to try to recapture that state from its present.
Republican governor, Mr. George Romney. The hawks argue that
the United States should be less tender toward the OAU and hang the
consequences. The OAU leaders have. not endeared themselves by
attacks on American imperialism, not only in Africa but in Vietnam too.
The latter, a sore point right now, might tip the scales in favour of a
policy of toughness.
2. Tanzania. State Department officials were not inclined to blame Mr.
Nyerere too harshly for the expulsion of American diplomats from
Dar-es-Salaam last month. Not that they considered the charges
against the Americans were justified, but that they admitted that his
fears?about Congolese fighting (and therefore white mercenaries)
near his borders, about communist and imperialist plots and counter-
plots?are genuinely felt, if exaggerated. The American retaliation,
the expulsion from Washington of a Tanzanian diplomat, which led the
Tanzanians to withdraw their ambassador as well, was directly contrary
? to the advice of these officials. ?
.?.
amtvii7C?._ -.A
npr.iaRsifien in Part - Sanitized COPY Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/01/06 : CIA-RDP73-00475R000400660004-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/01/06: CIA-RDP73-00475R000400660004-8
.The Chinese. Perhaps optimistically, it is now felt that the Chinese may.
not be as much of a menace in Africa as was earlier feared. Their, 777z?
iexpulsion from Burundi was an encouragement, and was much played:
! up in the American press., More recently the public attacks made by.;
. .
prominent French-speaking Africans on Chinese intervention in African::
,affairs,, notably in, regard to Niger, have, given Washington.satisfaction.
As for the ?Russians, it is still felt that so long ,as Washington is not. too
deeply Involved; for instance with. T?shonibe the .Rt4sians will avoid
'giving aid to rebels of Various colours in the don
..?tai e's .
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/01/06: CIA-RDP73-00475R000400660004-8