Office of the Historian

359. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1

Washington, January 2, 1965.

Mac—

I haven’t bothered you on Nigeria, on a simple premise that if nothing we should do no point in flapping. We decided to take UK’s counsel, rather than that of our Lagos man, and not propose any LBJ intervention.2

Latest news is encouraging. The two sides have gotten together; while a long period of bargaining (with perhaps some minor violence) is in prospect, odds are against Nigeria falling apart.3 Of course it’s regrettable that Nigerians will be so wound up in their own affairs as to be less useful on the Congo than we had hoped.

RWK
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Nigeria, Vol. I, Memos & Miscellaneous, 6/64–8/67. Secret.↩
  2. Telegram 1107 from Lagos, December 30, recommended that the President send a message to Nigerian President Nnamdi Azikiwe declaring support for the preservation of the federal republic. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, Nigeria—Presidential Correspondence)↩
  3. Telegram 02477 to Lagos, January 7, requested delivery of Johnson’s congratulations to President Azikiwe and Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa on their statesmanship and spirit of comprise in averting a crisis. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 15–1 NIGERIA)↩