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Zaire

-257. Telegram 1093 From the Embassy in Zaire to the Department of State, February 9, 1973, 1645Z [ PDF version   ] 

Ambassador Vance reported that despite Zaire's initiatives with communist governments in Guinea and the Peoples Republic of China, it had not changed its basic policy toward the United States.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL PORT-ZAIRE. Secret. Repeated to Lisbon, Luanda, Brussels, London, and Paris.

During President Nixon and Secretary Kissinger's meeting with President Mobutu, they discussed world issues and bilateral relations with Zaire, including minerals trading and PL-480 assistance.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK Memcons, April-November 1973. Secret. The meeting took place in the Oval Office of the White House. Kissinger had met with Mobutu on October 3, in New York, during the UN General Assembly, and previewed the issues discussed here. (Memoranda of Conversation, October 3; ibid., Box 746, Country Files, Africa, Zaire, Vol. I)

Cohen presented options for the sale of M-16 rifles to Zaire, including the need to consider possible Portuguese opposition to such sales.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, AF/I Files: Lot 75 D 420, MC Cases - Zaire 1974/3. Secret. Sent for action. Drafted by Robert Strand (AF/C). Recommendation 1 was neither approved nor disapproved. Easum initialed his approval of recommendation 2 on February 25.

Ambassador Vance strongly recommended to Assistant Secretary Easum that the United States approve the sale of M-16s to Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Papers of Sheldon B. Vance, 1967-1976, Box 4, TELS - Amb. Vance - 1974. Secret; Priority; Eyes Only. Drafted by DCM Michael H. Newlin; cleared by Col. Neilond, DAO, Col. Mallet, Zamish; and approved by Vance.

Easum indicated that a decision on the sale of M-16s to Zaire would be deferred until after the completion of negotiations with Portugal on an assistance package.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, AF/C Files: Lot 76 D 464, POL ZAIRE, Official-Informal. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted on March 5 by Robert R. Strand (AF/C), and cleared by Cohen. This copy did not bear Easum's signature.

Secretary Kissinger and Zaire State Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Umba-di-Lutete discussed bilateral relations, and Umba appealed for U.S. support of Holden Roberto, leader of Angola's FNLA liberation movement.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1974, P820097-1210. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Walter L. Cutler (AF/C). The meeting took place at the Department of State on August 12 at 6:10 p.m.

Washington informed the Embassy that the U.S. Government had authorized the sale of M-16s to Morocco and was now prepared to authorize a cash sale to Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1974. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Strand (AF/C), cleared by Cutler (AF/C), and approved by John W. Foley, Jr. (AF). This telegram is a repeat of a cable of the same number sent September 7 to Kinshasa. The original was not found. Kinshasa 7585, mentioned in para. 4, discusses the possibility of persuading Mobutu to oppose a UN vote on accepting Khmer Rouge as Camobdia's representatives to the UN. (Ibid.)

Cutler informed Hinton of the status of negotiations between the Departments of State and Defense on military assistance to Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, AF/C Files: Lot 76 D 464, Admin Zaire (K) 7. Secret; Official-Informal. The letter is an unsigned copy and the enclosure is not attached.

The Embassy was instructed to tell the Government of Zaire of U.S. willingness to send a military technical advisory team.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1974. Confidential. Repeated to USCINCEUR, CINCUSAFE, CINCUSAREUR, and CINCUSNAVEUR. Drafted by Mullen (OASD/ISA) and Strand (AF/C); cleared in ISA/SA, DSAA/FMS, JS/J-5, USAF/XOXX-EN, OASD/ISA(AF), PM, and Navy, approved by Mulcahy (AF).

Ambassador Hinton reported on a speech by President Mobutu critical of U.S. Africa policy in general and the nomination of Nathaniel Davis as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in particular.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Confidential; Immediate.

The Department instructed Ambassador Hinton to tell President Mobutu directly that his comments about the Davis nomination were an improper interference in U.S. domestic affairs.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Mulcahy, cleared in M, and approved by Kissinger.

Ambassador Hinton explained that were he to carry out instructions in telegram 15843 (Document 268, he might face expulsion from Zaire. He added that his reaction had most likely reached President Mobutu through his aides.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Maurice Tempelsman was a diamond merchant with business interests in Zaire. In telegram 683 from Kinshasa, January 24, the Embassy reported that Tempelsman concluded from his meeting with Mobutu that the latter knew he had made a mistake in criticizing the Davis appointment. (Ibid.)

Ambassador Hinton reported on a meeting with President Mobutu to discuss Zaire's defense problems and the need for U.S. military assistance.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Confidential, Limdis.

In his cover memorandum to the MTAT report, Rockwell noted that preparation of the report was seen by Zaire as prima facie evidence that the United States had decided to increase military assistance to Zaire. He strongly recommended that the United States take tangible steps toward such assistance.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975, P820143-2376. Confidential; Noforn. Also sent to the Office of the JCS and OASD/ISA. The report was not attached, but a copy is located ibid., AF/C Files: Lot 77 D 411, DEF 19-9-1 ZAIRE (K) 8, Advisory Team 1975. A sanitized version of the report was prepared in French for the GOZ. (Memorandum for the Director, Joint Staff, March 25; Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files, 330-78-0038, Box 26, Zaire)

Ambassador Hinton reported on a rumored coup attempt against President Mobutu, speculation of alleged U.S. involvement, and several arrests in Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Dar Es Salaam, Lusaka, Bujumbura, Luanda, Paris, Brussels, Pretoria, London, Libreville, and Nairobi.

Secretary Kissinger and Deputy Assistant Secretary Mulcahy discussed President Mobutu's allegations that Ambassador Hinton was involved in the planned coup against him.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger's Staff Meetings, 1973-1977, Entry 5177, Box 7, Secretary's Staff Meetings. Secret.

Ambassador Hinton reported that he had been instructed by Zaire Foreign Minister Bula to leave Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Confidential; Immediate; Limdis.

Secretary Kissinger and his staff discussed deteriorating U.S. relations with Zaire and its impact on developments in Angola, as well as the need to send a high-level representative to talk directly to President Mobutu.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975, P770089-0492. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Secretary's office.

Secretary Kissinger expressed his belief that allegations of U.S. involvement in a plot against President Mobutu was a result of a misunderstanding between the United States and Zaire, and proposed sending former Ambassador to Zaire Sheldon Vance to Kinshasa for consultations.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, CL 257, Geopolitical Files, Zaire, August 74-June 75. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Cutler, cleared in S and by Mulcahy.

Mulcahy reminded Kissinger that President Mobutu had accepted the offer to send Ambassador Vance and Director Cutler to Kinshasa to discuss coup allegations and Angola, and presented U.S. goals for the discussions.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, CL 257, Geopolitical Files, Zaire, August 74-June 75. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Cutler on June 19.

Ambassador Vance in Kinshasa reported to Secretary Kissinger on his first meeting with Mobutu and their discussion about coup allegations and Angola.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis; Cherokee. In telegram 5619 from Kinshasa, June 23, Vance provided details from Mobutu about the alleged involvement of the United States in the coup plot. (Ibid.) Vance then held two more meetings with Mobutu, as reported in telegram 5641 from Kinshasa, June 24 (ibid.), and telegram 5775 from Kinshasa, June 26. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Box 7, Zaire, State Department Telegrams to SECSTATE - NODIS, 8/9/74-7/31/75)

Davis presented Kissinger with background, recommendations and options, for a U.S. assistance package to Zaire. Kissinger initialed his approval of several recommendations.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, CL 257, Geopolitical Files, Zaire, 12 July 1975. Confidential. Drafted by Robert B. Duncan (AF/EPS), cleared in EB, AID, E, and Vance. Kissinger initialed his approval of the following recommendations on July 5: to urge Mobutu to accept an IMF stabilization program; to authorize Congressional consultations; and to call Treasury Secretary Simon. Under intervention with EXIM, Deputy Secretary Robert Ingersoll's name is handwritten next to "Will call," and handwritten below in parenthesis is "Ingersoll will call (President of the Ex-Im Bank William) Casey." The options under "Proposed Implementation of Your Decisions" were left blank. The attacments cited are not published. Tab 1 was dated July 3 and Tab 2 was dated July 2.

Kissinger recommended that the President approve a budget amendment providing for an increase in assistance to Zaire. The attachment offered a political justification for the increase.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, 1974-77, Box 7, Zaire (1). Confidential. Sent for action. The attachment is not published. A notation on the top of the first page reads: "The President has seen." The President approved the amendment on July 19. (Memorandum from Connor to Kissinger and Lynn, July 19; ibid.)

Ambassador Vance summarized his discussion with President Mobutu regarding military assistance. Vance added that Mobutu did not regard offered U.S. assistance as adequate to the situation.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of Joseph Sisco, 1951-1976, Entry 5405, Box 22, Angola. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis; Cherokee.

<p>Mulcahy offered four options for gaining approval of the $20 million aid package for Zaire.  Kissinger chose to have Assistant Secretary Sisco or INR Director Hyland speak to Senate leaders to dissuade them from holding hearings. </p>

<p>Source:  National Archives, RG 59, Papers of Sheldon B. Vance, 1967-1976, Box 2, Zaire, 1974-76.  Confidential.  Drafted by Robert Duncan (AF/EPS), cleared in H, PM/SAS, DA/AID, EB/ODF, and Vance.  The recommendation "Have someone else contact above" was checked and dated September 11, with a handwritten note that reads, "HK (illegible) Sisco."  Tab 1, Letters to Senators Humphrey and Clark, Tab 2, Talking Points for use with Senators Humphrey, Clark, and Inouye and Congressman Passman, and Tab 4, H interim response to Senators Humphrey and Clark, were not attached.  Tab 3, Letter from Senators Humphrey and Clark, August 1 was attached, but is not published. </p>

Granger presented Kissinger with two recommendations concerning increased military assistance levels for Zaire. Deputy National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft approved both recommendations.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa 1975-77, Box 7, Zaire (1). Confidential. Sent for action. The handwritten initials "RCM" (probably Rogers Morton) initialed for Granger. Brent Scowcroft initialed approval of both recommendations for Kissinger.

During a meeting with President Mobutu, Ambassador Vance presented two copies of a French version of the Rockwell Report.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Confidential. Repeated to CINCEUR.

Mulcahy offered a strategy for discussing U.S. assistance to Zaire at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on October 10.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, CL 257, Geopolitical Files, Zaire, August-November 1975. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Cutler, cleared by Vance.

Chargé Walker transmitted an assessment by the Embassy's political and economic reporting officers regarding U.S. policy in Zaire and Angola. They noted that Mobutu's interests were not entirely congruent with U.S. interests and cautioned against being drawn too deeply into the Angolan conflict.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 257, Geopolitical Files, Zaire, August-November 1975. Secret; Priority; Nodis; Cherokee.

Hyland responded to the analysis presented in Zaire telegram 9078 (Document 286), finding that it contained some valid observations, but that its recommendations were ultimately naïve and almost guaranteed to produce the results it warned against.

Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Box 11, Africa 1975, re: Pike Committee. Secret; Nodis. Kissinger's handwritten initials appear in the bottom right corner of the first page.

Mulcahy presented two options for pursuing Congressional approval of an AID Loan to Zaire. Kissinger approved the second option: continue to seek approval of an AID loan to Zaire, but without agreeing to help Tanzania and Zambia.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975, P800139-1593. Confidential. Drafted by Strand, cleared in AID/AFR, AID/LEG, H, IO, and by Vance. An unidentified hand initialed Kissinger's approval of the alternate recommendation and wrote: "Secretary asks that Mr. Ingersoll call Humphrey and Clark Nov. 4." Ingersoll spoke with Humphrey on November 7, and with Clark on November 10. (Record of telephone conversations; ibid., Papers of Sheldon B. Vance, 1967-76, Box 1, Zaire 1974)

Ambassador Cutler reported on President Mobutu's security concerns and request for U.S. help, and recommended that Washington show some positive, tangible response.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. On the Ford Library copy, a notation on the top of the first page reads: "The President has seen." (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Box 7, Zaire (1))

The Department instructed the Embassy to sympathize with Zairian security concerns and to assure President Mobutu that he had U.S. understanding and support.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Repeated Immediate to USUN and Priority to USDEL Secretary. Drafted by Thompson R. Buchanan, Jr. (AF/C); cleared in IO, AF, S/S; and approved by Kissinger via telegram. An information copy of the telegram was sent Priority to the Secretary's delegation abroad. Kissinger was traveling from Copenhagen to Moscow.

Robinson reported on actions underway to carry out the Secretary's instructions to mobilize U.S. and multilateral support for Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Economic Files: Lot 77 D 116, Box 4, Under Secretary Robinson Memoranda, January - March 1976. Confidential. Cleared by Schaufele. The attached memorandum from Schaufele to Kissinger entitled, "ZAIRE: Plans and Propsects for US Assistance," March 6, is not published.

Ambassador Cutler provided Secretary of State Kissinger with a tour d'horizon of Zaire in preparation for the Secretary's visit to Kinshasa.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Immediate. Repeated Priority to the Department of State.

Scowcroft passed to the President a message from Kissinger on his meeting with Mobutu in Kinshasa.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Trip Briefing Books and Cables for Henry Kissinger, Box 22, Africa 4/23-5-5/7/76, HAK Messages for the President. Secret; Nodis; Exclusively Eyes Only. Ford initialed the memorandum.

Secretary Kissinger and President Mobutu discussed U.S.-Zaire relations, focusing on U.S. military and economic assistance for Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976, P829117-2481. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place aboard Mobutu's yacht. Drafted on May 26. A May 26 S/S memorandum attached to this document includes a handwritten note indicating, "This replaces the earlier Toumayan (the Department's interpreter/notetaker) version of the same meeting, which was a Washington redraft of his notes."

Secretary Kissinger and President Mobutu summed up their discussions during Kissinger's three-day visit to Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976, P860120-2141. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the presidential palace.

Secretary Kissinger instructed Ambassador Cutler to pass a letter to Mobutu, informing him that the United States was working actively on his request for economic and military assistance, and that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld was prepared to visit Zaire in July.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated to the Department.

The interagency study examined the military threat to Zaire and concluded that it did not face external military attack during the next year or so.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 91R00884R, Box 9, Folder 14, IIM: Military Threat to Zaire. Secret; Noforn; Nocontract; Orcon. Transmitted by covering memorandum from DCI Bush to Kissinger on May 25. (Ibid.)

Rockwell presented the report of his second mission to Zaire. He indicated that Soviet designs on Southern Africa represented a well-defined threat to Zaire, and advised that substantial outside assistance was required to meet the threat.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330-79-0049, Box 88, Zaire, 1976 (2). Secret. Enclosure 1 is published as Document 271. Enclosure 2, Report of U.S. Military Advisory Team II, undated, is not published.

Secretary Kissinger, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations Robert McCloskey, and Assistant Secretary Schaufele discussed an economic aid package for Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's Staff Meetings, 1973-1977, Entry 5177, Box 10, June 17, 1976. Secret.

In response to Kissinger's request in the staff meeting of June 17, Robinson transmitted a nine-point action plan for international aid to Zaire.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976, P760106-0299. Confidential. Copies were sent to E, AID, T, and AF. The memorandum was drafted by Rutherford M. Poats (D) on June 18. The Action Plan was drafted by Poats, and by Thompson R. Buchanan and Edward Marks (AF/C); and cleared in E, T, AF, and EB/OMA.

The Embassy transmitted a memorandum of conversation of Rumsfeld's June 18 meeting with President Mobutu in which they discussed threats from Soviet and Cuban backed regimes in neighboring countries and U.S. military assistance to Zaire.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330-79-0049, Zaire, 1976. Secret; Niact Immediate; Eyes Only. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Eugene V. McAuliffe reported to Ambassador Cutler in telegram 5089 to Kinshasa, June 24, that "SecDef has approved without change your draft memorandum of his June 18 conversation with President Mobutu. In accordance with SecDef's instructions I am forwarding one copy to Larry Eagleburger for Secretary of State Kissinger. Working through State Department channels, we shall follow through on SecDef's promise to Mobutu to make contact with Belgians." (Ibid.)

Scowcroft transmitted a report from Secretary Kissinger about his September 22 meeting with President Mobutu in Zaire which was largely devoted to Southern Africa issues.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Brent Scowcroft Daily Work Files, Box 14, Chronological File A, September 16-30, 1976. Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. The memorandum was not initialed by Scowcroft.

Ambassador Cutler again stressed to the Department the importance of showing President Mobutu forward movement on U.S. military assistance.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.

The Department requested that the Embassies contact their host governments to inform them of U.S. military support for Zaire and U.S. willingness to consult on a coordinated assistance program.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, State Archiving System. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to Kinshasa and DOD/OASD/ISA. Drafted by Michael F. Gallagher and Thompson R.Buchanan in AF/C, cleared by PM, EUR/WE, EUR/NE, T, ISA, and DSAA. Telegrams 167 from Brussels, January 7, 1977, and 845 from Paris, January 11, reported the consultations. (Ibid.)

The paper reviewed the economic situation of Zaire and concluded that the long-term outlook for the country was not promising.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1976, P770011-1415. Confidential. Drafted by Michael Chisek (INR), and approved by Lawrence Kennon (INR).