Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa

308. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany⁰

Washington, November 6, 1963, 6:20 p.m.

1377. Ref: Mogadiscio’s 354.¹ Embassies Bonn and Rome requested confer with respective governments and state that, while Somali note clearly ends chance for tripartite arms program, US believes it important record be made straight in non-argumentative fashion in order support friends in Somalia who urged western military support and in event GSR should attempt in future charge west failed respond its defensive needs. US wishes propose, therefore, for consideration FRG and GOI presentation by respective Embassies Mogadiscio of parallel notes along following line:

“The Government of … acknowledges the receipt of the note dated November 3 from the Government of the Somali Republic concerning the program of military assistance presented by the Governments of the United States, Italy, and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The right and the duty of the GSR to take all measures to safeguard its territorial integrity are fully acknowledged. The Governments of the United States, Italy and the Federal Republic of Germany, however, note that the decision to accept military aid from the USSR appears to have been taken on the basis of certain assumptions by the GSR regarding the details with respect to units, quantities and quality of the tripartite program as set forth in the annex to the letter of October 23. It is regretted that the GSR has made its decision without taking advantage of the offer, set forth in the aforementioned letter, to hold a meeting with the responsible Somali military authorities to define these technical aspects of the tripartite program.

Paragraph three of the letter of the respective governments was not intended in any way to be inconsistent with the principle of nonalignment adopted by the Government of the Somali Republic, but was based on the practical difficulties of conducting two substantial parallel programs of military assistance in the face of problems of preserving uniformity of equipment and training, providing adequate spare parts, and allocating local financial and manpower resources.

The Government of … notes the expression of confidence by the Government of the Somali Republic that friendly relations with the three governments will not be affected and the desire of the Somali Government that these relations be strengthened in the interest of peace, welfare, and stability. The Government of … shares this desire for continued friendly relations.

To the extent that the new arrangements of the Somali Republic with the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and the diversion of resources which may accompany the new substantial military assistance program permit, the Government of … fully intends, within this spirit of continued friendship, to continue the close ties and activities of mutual benefit which now exist.”²

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 19 SOMALI. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Newsom; cleared by Warren, O’Mahony, Stout, Heffner (DOD), and Wolf (AID); and approved by Tasca. Also sent priority to Rome and repeated to Mogadiscio, Addis Ababa, Paris, and London.
1. Telegram 354, November 3, transmitted a note from the Somali Government rejecting the Western military aid offer. (Ibid.)
2. On November 27, Ambassador Torbert delivered a slightly revised version of the tripartite note to the Somali Prime Minister. His report noted that the Italian and German notes had preceded his. (Telegram 391 from Mogadiscio, November 27; ibid.)