123. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State0
71. Reference: Congo. Just prior to opening of SC meeting tonight 7/13 Lodge ran into Loridan1 in corridor. Loridan referred to their earlier conversation in which Lodge had urged Loridan make declaration before SC re Belgian willingness to withdraw troops as law and order restored by UN, and to which Loridan at that time had appeared sympathetic. Loridan immediately raised objections to what he seemed to think was US desire obtain statement about Belgian withdrawal of troops which would set stage, in his opinion, for Congo request that Belgium quit various bases, including one at Kamina. In elaborating this point, Loridan said this was NATO base and, in emotional tone, tried to convey impression US was seeking cut Belgium off and out from Congo entirely, and injuring NATO in bargain.
Lodge sought to clarify Loridan’s misunderstanding and said this was first reference to NATO bases he had heard of in this case.
Lodge then sought to reach Secretary Herter aboard Sequoia and, when audible connection finally established, told him of Loridan’s agitation and allegations, which were basically addressed to avoiding vote on Tunisian draft resolution2 with its paragraph calling upon Belgium to withdraw its troops from Republic of Congo. Secretary told Lodge while Kamina had good airfield, it was not NATO base as such and not to worry too much about this point. As far as resolution concerned, while preferable to avoid calling on Belgians to withdraw, if necessary to obtain result tonight, Secretary felt Lodge should go right ahead and support Tunisian resolution even with difficult paragraph in it. Important thing in Secretary’s judgment was to get UN force out into field at once.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.00/7–1460. Confidential; Priority.↩
- Belgian Representative at the United Nations Walter Loridan.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 124.↩