291. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Congo1
446. From the Secretary. During conference yesterday with UNSYG, report of which under preparation,2 Under Secretary referred to necessity of effective and adequate consultation on constitution between UN and Katangan experts and/or competent officials prior to presentation of constitutional draft to Adoula for presentation to Parliament. I believe this to be of paramount importance and desire that USUN and Gullion bear this point in mind in their discussions with UNNY and Gardiner.
[Page 578]Would also appreciate Léopoldville reporting soonest on current status of draft constitution, consultations held to date and anticipated developments.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770G.03/9–1462. Confidential. Drafted by Godley; cleared by Williams, Wallner, Andrews, and McGhee; and approved by Ball. Also sent to USUN and repeated to Brussels, London, and Elisabethville.↩
- The conversation, which covered a number of subjects, is recorded in a memorandum of conversation by Sisco. Concerning the Congo, Thant said he was thinking in terms of a period of about 30 days to put the reconciliation plan into effect. (Ibid., 884.411/9–1362)↩
- Gullion reported in telegram 706, September 20, that he had been trying to get Adoula to find a formula that would at least prevent Tshombe from claiming he had been prevented from presenting his views on a constitution, but that he had thus far been unsuccessful. He reported that, on the one hand, Adoula was convinced Tshombe would use discussion of the constitution as an excuse to procrastinate on other steps but that, on the other hand, his opponents were charging him with planning to break up the Congo through a federal constitution and a pact with Tshombe. (Ibid., 770G.00/9–2062)↩