APPROVED FOR RIILASF DtTLMllll
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OfPlCE Of CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
PIT''Jta KBB
'SECRET
CONGO
strategy, as ilto be evolving ln his talks with Adoula, ls to offer the prospect of Katangan economic concessions and to expecL in return constitutional changes loigh degree of autonomy for the provincial government. In over six days ofonarch
hrcc-daythe two loaders have not yet begun to discuss practical measures--financial, economic, orKatanga'sInto the Congo. Considerable time has been spent wrangling over Tshombfe's assertion that while heree hand to negotiate, any
secret
f 21
airoimrnl Bust be ratified by the Katangan Assembly.
Tshombe, by insisting on assembly ratification.has raised tbe issue of the validity of tbe Lol rondameatale, theconstitution which estsbllshed the primacy of Leopoldville over tho Congo's provinces. He wants lo drastl-caHyinend, If not totallywith, this law. Adoula, on the other hand, who wants to retain lt, maintains that tbe law requires no provincial ratification of agreementsrovince and tbe central government. Adoula insists that he caanot suspend the Lol Fondamentalc, since It affects all the provinces and revision is
orteaiy torn Bnfwmmmgh.-
would not hold out on Ihe issue, although heintenda to continue to press for constitutional concessions.
Tshombe listed four items in the agenda he proponed for the rcsuned talks: the first three Involve dlsoussloa of new constitutional arrangements; the fourth ls "an examination of accords to be reached on financial, economic, and fiscal
matters." ^Ess^^Wamfmfmmsl
| Tshombesake "gtnunm ." i'l-oriomn* ln return for political concessions.
Tahombe wired Katangan officialsheof thebe was satisfied with tbe "progress" being made. He alsoormed UN civil cblef Gardiner that he expected the talks to go on for some time. Adoula, on the other hand, appears to bemore exasperated with the
Katangan loader and doubtful that he can budge him. Onarch, Adoula laid tbe blame tor Tshombe's Intransigence on the US and the UN, which he charged have ln effect been aiding Tshombe. He asserted that the UN had not carried out its mandate and that tbe US bad blocked the establishmentongolese air force.
Adoula said Tshombe was acting as If he were the head of an Independent state ratherrovincial president. The prime minister said that he himself might be censured by parliament for his failure to show some progress, and he might have to try to forestallove by taking theandote of. No said he had to nave something, even If he had "to go to Satan" to get it. Onarch. Adoula calledonvocation of members of all six provincial assemblies to meetpril at tho University ot Lovanlum, near Leopoldville. Adoula's movo ls apparently designed to exert pressure on Tshombe to end what Adoula charges are "dilatory" tactics.
If Adoula were to break off tbe talks while blaming Tshombe for tbelr failure, lt would seem that he would need to unveil some dramatic new tactic aimed at volvlng the Katangan Impasse in order to maintain his political Another Congolese army "invasion" of Katanga,UN logistic support, is almost certain to fall and thus aorseo Adoula's position. In view of previous reports of plans by his to seekaid outside the UKhis sharp criticism of tbe US andthis appearn to bo the most likely tack. If he got no satisfactory response from the Afro-Asian states, Adoula might, ln desperation, turn to the bloc for assistance as the Jy means available to him.
30 War
Original document.
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