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Burundi

-218. Editorial Note 

In a memorandum dated June 25, 1971, Henry Kissinger, the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs, informed President Nixon that the Burundi Government had claimed that a set of documents indicated the Central Intelligence Agency was active in the country. The chargi, however, had demonstrated that the documents were completely false. The President wrote on the memorandum, "K - withdraw our missions when they make such ridiculous charges." (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 34, President's Daily Briefs)

In a June 28 memorandum to Kissinger, his deputy, Alexander Haig, wrote: "On Burundi, I will ask Marshall Wright to give us a reading on the feasibility of withdrawing our mission." (Ibid.)

Irwin informed the President that the Burundi Government had been attacked by insurgents, but President Micombero remained in command.  No Americans or Europeans had been harmed, but the 125 Americans, mainly missionaries, had been asked to exercise prudence.  Ambassador Melady had offered Catholic Relief Service supplies and would use disaster relief funds in response to Micombero's request for international assistance.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 41, President's Daily Briefs.  Confidential. The memorandum is stamped: "The President Has Seen."

Levine stated that the Burundi slaughter was systematic and extensive, probably involving 100,000 victims.  He noted that there were humanitarian reasons for the United States to try to end it along with increased political criticism from Senator Edward Kennedy if the U.S. did not, but realistically there was little the U.S. could do.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 735, Country Files, Africa, Burundi, Vol. I.  Confidential. Sent for information.  Kissinger wrote "To whom?" next to the last sentence on page one, commencing "On the diplomatic front."

The telegram transmitted a memorandum to Kissinger from the Situation Room reporting on the continuing extermination of Hutus. Among Africans, only Congo President Mobutu was willing to involve the Organization of African Unity.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Kissinger Trip Files, K/023/01/063.  Top Secret; Sensitive; Contains Codeword.

Kissinger reported on the warfare in Burundi between the Hutus and the Tutsis and the reactions of the international community.  In a lengthy handwritten note in response to Kissinger's memorandum, Nixon deplored the U.S. reaction as cynical and callous and instructed Kissinger to tell the Africa Bureau in the Department of State to recommend at a minimum how to express U.S. moral outrage. He also ordered the immediate recall Ambassador Yost for consultations.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 735, Country Files, Africa, Burundi, Vol. I.  Administratively Confidential. Drafted by F. E. Rondon and based on a report that he and Richard Kennedy forwarded to Kissinger on September 20. (Ibid.) The memorandum is stamped: "The President Has Seen." The President hand wrote a lengthy note on page two of the memorandum, which was transcribed in the White House on September 21. The transcription is included as part of the document.

The President told Kissinger that he wanted the ambassador recalled and a follow-up report on his return. Kissinger indicated that Secretary of State Rogers did not want to recall Ambassador Yost because the killing had essentially stopped.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Camp David Secretary's Table, Conversation No. 154-3.  This transcript was prepared in the Office of the Historian specifically for this volume.

Eliot provided a summary of the U.S. diplomatic and humanitarian response to the violence in Burundi, calling it a role of active, quiet leadership.  He indicated that Ambassador Yost was returning for consultations.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 735, Country Files, Africa, Burundi, Vol. I.  Confidential.

Kissinger summarized Belgium's reactions to the situation in Burundi.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 735, Country Files, Africa, Burundi, Vol. I.  Secret; Sensitive. The memorandum is stamped, "The President as Seen." The President wrote adjacent to the subject line on page one, "What have we done?" Written at the top of page one is, "HK has seen."

Kissinger responded to Nixon's question regarding what the United States had done in reaction to the situation in Burundi. After outlining several measures, he recommended that the Department of State and Ambassador Yost be informed that while the present Burundi Government remained in power official relations were expected to be minimal.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 735, Country Files, Africa, Burundi, Vol. I.  Confidential. Sent for action.  The President initialed "Agree" and wrote below: "K also see the Burundi Ambassador." Tab 1 is Document 225. Tab 2 is Document 226.

Rondon discussed the President's instructions on policy toward Burundi and how to convey them to the Department of State. He also forwarded Ambassador Yost's memorandum on Burundi developments, which recommended retaining the greatest possible flexibility in U.S. policy toward Burundi.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 735, Country Files, Africa, Burundi, Vol. I.  Confidential; Eyes Only; Nodis. Sent for action. Kissinger checked "Agree" and wrote "done" next to it.

Rogers reported that Burundi Ambassador Terence was called to the Department October 18 and informed of the new policy. Terence was defensive and said that national reconciliation was underway.

Source:  National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 735, Country Files, Africa, Burundi, Vol. I.  Confidential. Kissinger forwarded Rogers' memorandum to the President under cover of a November 8 memorandum in which he summarized its contents and assured Nixon that Ambassador Yost was fully aware of his instructions and could be expected to carry them out. (Ibid.)

Kissinger forwarded Rogers' memorandum stating that the United States did not plan to object to a World Bank loan to Burundi. The President approved on condition that a strong statement be issued condemning the genocide in Burundi.

Source:  Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 296, Memoranda to the President, December 1972.  Confidential. Sent for action.  The memorandum is stamped: "The President Has Seen." The President checked "Approve" and added the following note: "But with a strong statement by the U.S. disapproving Burundi's genocide.  The statement is to be broadly publicized.  Say our not objecting to the loan does not reflect approval of their policy.  K - I consider this an opportunity to get out the horrible story of what happened there."

Kissinger informed Rogers and Schultz of the President's approval regarding the World Bank loan and his condition that a strong statement be issued condemning the genocide.

Source:  Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 296, Memoranda to the President, December 1972.  Confidential. Haig signed the memorandum for Kissinger.