Office of the Historian

322. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom0

Washington, August 24, 1961, 8:40 p.m.

932. Dar es Salaam 144 rptd Salisbury 7, London 34.1 President Kennedy has received telegram from Kaunda2 as reported reftel pleading for US intervention in current session UNGA and with Macmillan to end loss life and alleged uprooting villages Northern Rhodesia. Department planning friendly but generally worded reply from President regretting loss life and deploring violence, hoping parties concerned can come to statesmanlike agreement, and mentioning continuing exchange views with United Kingdom.

Department urgently requests views of Governor Williams and Consul General concerning proposed reply and possible reaction Federal Government. Embassy London comments would be appreciated. While we do not wish give British impression of veto over any action to be taken, will leave to Embassy’s judgment whether discreet consultation with UK officials would be helpful.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 745C.00/8-2261. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Dunham and Wight, cleared by Sweeney and Veliotes, and approved by Ferguson. Also sent to Salisbury Niact and repeated to Dar-es-Salaam Priority.↩
  2. Dated August 22. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Kenneth Kaunda, National President of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) in Northern Rhodesia.↩