Historical Documents - Office of the Historian

Washington, December 30, 1965.

McGB

FYI.

1.: The mystery of the President’s OK on $2 million for the Zambian airlift has been cleared up. In a conversation with Tom Mann this morning, I asked if he had been informed of the President’s approval. His reply was, “yes, by a female secretary from the ranch on Christmas day”.
2.: If he has not already been in touch with you, Mann will be calling you today and sending over a memo, seeking quick Presidential approval for an additional $3 million in AID funds for Zambian contingency plan. This additional money is required because (a) our participation in the Zambian oil airlift has proven more expensive than anticipated, and (b) we still need to fulfill our agreement to help improve overland transportation routes to and from Zambia. The $3 million will be obtained by juggling around existing SA allocations for Africa.
3.: As Komer and I have been predicting, the operation to protect Zambia is proving more and more expensive to the US. At this stage, our support for the Zambian operation represents a two-month commitment. If the Smith regime does not collapse within that period, the UK and Zambia will surely be back to us for even more support.
4.: Having gone this far in support of the Zambian airlift, I would certainly recommend that the President approve the additional $3 million. However, State should increase pressures on the UK for the “quick kill” in Rhodesia, stressing that we are fast reaching the financial limits of our support.

Rick

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Haynes Memos. Confidential. Copies were sent to Komer and Saunders.↩

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIV, Africa