307. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Tasca) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Sloan) and to the Assistant Administrator for Africa-Europe, Agency for International Development (Hutchinson)0
SUBJECT
- Views of the President on the Situation in Somalia
The President received American Ambassador to the Somali Republic, Horace G. Torbert, Jr., on October 25, 1963.1 Excerpts of the memorandum of conversation covering the views of the President on the military aid situation with respect to Somalia and the desirability of maintaining our non-military programs are given below for your information.
“The President was also given a brief sketch of the territorial claims situation. He asked whether we could stay in the military picture in some way, possibly in the training area, even though the Soviet program went ahead. Ambassador Torbert said that he understood the consensus was that we could not enter a training program at the same time that the Soviet program was starting and indeed the Somalis probably would not want it; however, it seemed advisable that we should maintain careful watch on the situation and be prepared to enter the military training field on short notice if an opportunity presented itself in the medium term future. The President indicated agreement with this idea.
“Ambassador Torbert said he felt the next year or so would be a difficult time because the Somali Government would be seeking to justify its turning to the Soviet Government for aid and might therefore make anti-western statements which might tempt us to an indignant retort or a gesture of cancelling our other programs. It seemed, however, highly desirable, at least for the next year or so, to maintain our non-military programs in Somalia in order to keep all the influence we have in key sectors of the Somali Government and economy. He hoped therefore that any contrary pressures in the United States could be kept under control. The President indicated full understanding of this idea and general agreement with it.”