“… of 1960, there was a great deal of concern at the highest levels in the United States government ■ about the role of Patrice Lumumba in the Congo.* Lumumba, who served briefly as Premier of the newly independent nation, was viewed with alarm by United States foreign policymakers be …”
“… ward Lumumba? Mr. Tweedy. Well, I think you would have to start by 5j saying what was the general assessment of the situation in 6 P the Congo. Lumumba was really sort of the last thing you 7 il came down to. 8 : The worry in WAshington about the situation in the 9 : Congo w …”
“TOP SECRET 72 2 0 7 1 5 4 4 -4 0 0 0 1 to be engaged in in the Congo, This included such things i8 purely policy questions of what the Ambassador to the U.N. might say to the Secretary General the U.N.or …”
“… n. Were these political side effects only that were being taken into account or were there also fears for American business interests in the Congo that 5 " were part of the side effects? 6 Mr. Tweedy. Insofar as my assessments were concerned. 7 " and those of the Agency and any c …”
“… e names of many geographical units and governmental institutions have changed. For instance, the nation formerly known as the Republic of the Congo is now the Republic of Zaire and the present capital city, Kinshasa, was known then as Leopoldville. For the sake of clarity in dealing w …”
“TOP SECRET 71 0 0 0 4 z y l 1/O< 1 given a little thing for watch chain. If I had one. which would be member of the Congo Club, and it was rather typical of the way the government worked on this thing and I personally felt excellent advised that the U.S. wa …”
“-4- by intelligence reports such as that cabled to CIA headquarters by the new Chief of Station: EMBASSY AND STATION BELIEVE CONGO EXPERIENCING CLASSIC COMMUNIST EFFORT TAKEOVER GOVERNMENT. MANY FORCES AT WORK HERE: SOVIETS COMMUNIST PARTY, ETC. ALTHOUGH DIFFICULT DETERMIN”
“-11- Several days later, while warning a key Congolese leader about coup plots led by Lumumba and two of his supporters, the Chief of Station URGED ARREST OR OTHER MORE PERMANENT DISPOSAL OF LUMUMBA, GIZENGA, AND MULELE (CIA Cable, (IN 15643, Leopoldville to Director, 9/2”
“-11- Several days later, while warning a key Congolese leader about coup plots led by Lumumba and two of his supporters, the Chief of Station URGED ARREST OR OTHER MORE PERMANENT DISPOSAL OF LUMUMBA, GIZENGA, AND MULELE (CIA Cable, IN 15643, Leopoldville to Director, 9/20”
“‘% *4 * ha is i TOP SECRET 70 -4 207) 344-4000 1 my period as Chief of the African Division and the Congo — let’s leave the balance of Africa out — and .N. and U.S. 27 ,6 4 ' involvement in the Congolese matter, that I have never seen an …”
“Mr. Dulles said he believed a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Lumumba. Aside from Lumumba, Mobutu appears to be the only man in the Congo able to act with firmness. A recent attempt to assassinate Mobutu had failed. Mr. Dulles then reported that we had attempted to provide M …”
“-4- by intelligence reports such as that cabled to CIA headquarters. by the new Chief of Station: EMBASSY AND STATION BELIEVE CONGO EXPERIENCING CLASSIC COMMUNIST EFFORT TAKEOVER GOVERNMENT. MANY FORCES AT WORK HERE: SOVIETS ... COMMUNIST PARTY, ETC. ALTHOUGH DIFFICULT DE”
“… S REMOVE HIM FROM SCENE SOONEST... (CIA Cable, IN 13374, Leopoldville to Director, 9/15/60.) On September 17, another, CIA operative in the Congo.met. with a leading Congolese senator. At this meeting, the senator requested a clandestine supply of small arms to equip some Congolese …”
“… S REMOVE HIM FROM SCENE SOONEST. (CIA Cable, (IN 13374,) Leopoldville to Director, 9/15/60.)/ On September 17, another CIA operative in the Congo met with a leading Congolese senator. At this meeting, the senator requested a clandestine supply of small arms to equip some Congolese …”
“… was in that setting that Lumumba then came to 23 Washington. 24 While he was in Washington apparently Secretary Herter 25 pledged aid to the Congo. And Mr. Detweiler, who was the TOP SECRET NW 50955 DocId: 32423566 Page 81”
“that this would return Lumumba to power. The day after Lumumba was deposed by Kasavubu, two CIA officers met with a high level Congolese politician who had a close relationship to the Leopoldville Station. The Station re ported to CIA headquarters that the politician had mad”
“… Frederick Baron DATE : August 20, 1975 SUBJECT: Interview with Congo Chief of Station: Lumumba Assassination Plan and Related Events in the Congo Staff Members Present: Burton Wides, Rhett Dawson, Frederick Baron The following is a summary of the contents of an interview conduct …”
“-9- to a remark by the Chief of Station that implied that he might assassinate Lumumba: TO COS COMMENT THAT LUMUMBA IN OPPOSITION IS ALMOST AS DANGEROUS AS IN OFFICE, [THE CONGOLESE POLITICIAN] INDICATED UNDERSTOODI AND IMPLIED MIGHT PHYSICALLY ELIMINATE LUMUMBA. (CIA Ca”
“… east f what the 22 I policy was. If we could focus our attention on the © Mr. Baron. 410 F 3035 period between the independence of the Congo in June of ‘60 25 and the announcement of the death of Lumumba in February of ‘(l. TOP SECRET N”
“the Congo. The Church Committee report as cited in Attachment A has already made "official-public disclosure" of the matter, rendering the subject …”
“^ n . (As04 2021 544-6000 TOP SECRET 16 Mr. Dawson. I know that you have indicated you © won't be able to put a precise date to this conversation 6 with Bissell or conversations with Bissell, but maybe we an narrow it down a little bit. Would you assume that it would be”
“-9- to a remark by the Chief of Station that implied that he might assassinate Lumumba: TO COS COMMENT THAT LUMUMBA IN OPPOSITION IS ALMOST AS DANGEROUS AS IN OFFICE, [THE CONGOLESE POLITICIAN] INDICATED UNDERSTOOD AND IMPLIED MIGHT PHYSICALLY ELIMINATE LUMUMBA. (CIA Cab”
“… you 22 and others at a high-level in the State Department were, 23 extremely concerned about this man continuing in a position 24 in the Congo? 25 NW 50955 DocId: 32423566 Page 79 TOP SECRET”
“… as a threat, at least until early December when he was captured by Mobutu's troops and im prisoned. During this period, CIA officers in the Congo advised' and aided Congolese contacts known to have any intent to kill Lumumba. They also opposed the resumption of the democratic proces …”
“of Station to Director, 10/11/60). The Chief of Station proceeded to recommend Lumumba’s arrest in the same cable: STATION HAS CONSISTENTLY URGED [CONGOLESE] LEADERS ARREST LUMUMBA IN BELIEF LUMUMBA WILL CONTINUE BE THREAT TO STABILITY CONGO UNTIL REMOVED FROM SCENE (CIA Cab”
“follow-up cable to Leopoldville: "YOU ARE AUTHORIZED PROCEED WITH OPERATION" (CIA Cable OUT 59959, Director to Leopoldville, 8/19/60). Several days later, the Chief of Station reported that a plan to assassinate Lumumba had been proposed to President Kasavubu by Congolese le”
“to the Congo. The Church Committee report as cited in Attachment A has already made "official-public disclosure” of the matter, rendering the subject …”
“-29- appropriate personnel in the CIA station and the United States embassy. This cable generally 'discussed the possibility of covertly supplying certain Congolese leaders with funds and military aid' (CIA Cable OUT 81476, Director .to Leopoldville, 10/15/60). This cable a”
“signed a follow-up cable to Leopoldville: "YOU ARE AUTHORIZED PROCEED WITH OPERATION" (CIA Cable OUT 59959, Director to Leopoldville, 8/19/60). Several days later, the Chief of Station reported that a plan to assassinate Lumumba had been proposed to President Kasavubu by Co”
“… there is nothing in my experience with the Agency © 1 which would really bear on that point whatsoever. 2 Mr. Baron. Did you travel to the Congo shortly 0 Eveina before the independence of the Congo was declared? G Mr. Tweedy. That was my first visit to the Congo as I 5 li re …”
“-29- appropriate personnel in the CIA station and the United States embassy. This cable ... generally discussed the possibility of covertly supplying certain Congolese leaders with funds and military aid (CIA Cable OUT 81476) Director to Leopoldville, 10/15/60). This cable ”
“-6- The next day, Allen Dulles personally signed a cable * to the Leopoldville Chief of Station which stressed the urgency of "removing" Lumumba: IN HIGH QUARTERS ** HERE IT IS THE CLEAR- CUT CONCLUSION THAT IF LLL [LUMUMBA] CON TINUES TO HOLD HIGH OFFICE, THE INEVITAB”
“… frica just the way this country was. It was obviously a worry. 20003 Mr. Baron. Was it also our assumption if the Soviets moved into the Congo they would move n the side of Lumumba? S Mr. Tweedy. Oh, yes, I think there”
“-6- The next day, Allen Dulles personally signed a cable * to the Leopoldville Chief of Station which stressed the urgency of "removing" Lumumba: ** IN HIGH QUARTERS HERE IT IS THE CLEAR- CUT CONCLUSION THAT IF LLL [LUMUMBA] CON TINUES TO HOLD HIGH OFFICE, THE INEVITAB”
“… d a leading role 7 in designing a policy for, right? 8 Mr. Dillon. I don’t recall the details of what was 9 ahppening at that time in the Congo. But I do have a basic 10 recollection that over this period of time it was a pretty 11 difficult situation, with UN forces in there, an …”
“was "JUST A TRICK TO ASSASSINATE LUMUMBA" (CIA Cable Leop - (Chief of Station to Director, 10/11/60). The /Chief of Station proceeded to recommend Lumumba’s arrest in the same cable: STATION HAS CONSISTENTLY URGED [CONGOLESE] LEADERS ARREST LUMUMBA IN BELIEF LUMUMBA WILL CON”
“… a case which reflect general issues that run throughout the Committee’s assassination inquiry. First, did CIA officers and operatives in the Congo take steps to attempt the assassination of Lumumba? Second, how high in the United States government was the source of authorization for …”
“… event if Lumumba allowed even minor role he most apt J'1 come out on top". Does that indicate to you that the Chief of Station 1€ in the Congo at this point continued to be extremely concerned that Lumumba should not be allowed even a minor role in the government of the Congo? …”
“of the UAR forces now in the Congo had been placed advisedly in north Equateur Province, while the Guinea forces were in the northern part of Leopoldville Province. Interc …”
“… ders of NSC 5704/3. 5. SId'’gICANT WORLD DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING U.S. SECURITY Mr. Dulles said he would first summarize developments in the Congo. Several African states were making frantic efforts to save Lumumba. An intercepted message between Egypt and Ghana indicates that Nasser …”
“… ase which reflect general issues that run throughout the Committee's assassination inquiry. First, did CIA officers and operatives in the Congo take steps to attempt the assassination of Lumumba? Second, how high in the United States government was the source of authorization for …”
“a D o n e iA rk a 2071 $ 4 4 4000 TOP SECRET existing conditions this should be a high priority of out 47 1 covert action, close quotes, — is that consistent with the 2 policy towards Lumumba as you recall it? 3 In other words,that Lumumba’s removal was prime objec- •A ”
“… you as we 7 were strolling around, the simple answer to that is yes. These consultations would take many, many different forms. 6 On the Congo, for example, the State Department 9 obviously was just as involved as practically the rest : the 10 U.S. Government and they had a Con …”
“about Lumumba’s political strength in the Congo was growing among the foreign policy-makers of the Eisenhower Administration. ** This concern was nurtured * Report of the Commission o …”
“***. A Congolese security officer in liaison with the CIA on an attempt to tap Lumumba's phones "IMPLIED HE TRYING HAVE [LUMUMBA] KILLED BUT ADDED THIS MOST DIFFICULT AS JOB WOULD HAVE BE DONE BY AFRICAN WITH NO APPARENT INVOLVEMENT WHITE MAN. (CIA Cable, IN 34867, Leopoldvil”
“1 TOP SECRET 43 t o n s (A rn a 2029 $ 4 4 -6 0 0 0 was the main reason that I am sure I went to the Congo at that point was the fact that it obviously was going to become a major personnel drain, if you like, on the Division and major comm …”
“Lumumba's political strength in the Congo was growing among the foreign policy-makers of the Eisenhower Administration. ** This concern was nurtured * Report of the Commission o …”
“… Lumumba, and a Messenger Was Sent to Congo With a Highly Sensitive Assignment 15 (b) Gottlieb Delivered Lethal Substance to Hedgman in the Congo for the Assassi nation of Lumumba: September 1960 .. 18 • (c) Hedgman Testified That Gottlieb Told Him That President Eisenhower Had O …”
“November 27; Lumumba was virtually a prisoner in UN custody, but inaccessible to CIA agents and the Congolese: TARGET HAS NOT LEFT BUILDING IN SEVERAL WEEKS. HOUSE GUARDED DAY AND NIGHT BY CONGOLESE AND UN TROOP.... CONGOLESE - TROOPS ARE THERE TO PREVENT TARGET'S ESCAPE A”
“… 2 Secretary of State, this particular meeting. 3 Mr. Baron. And do you recall the discussion reported in 4 those minutes of affairs in the Congo, that there was the 5 fear of Egyptian influence on the Congo situation on the part 6 of Lumumba, and that there was some pressure bein …”