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central intelligence agency office of current inteuioence
SECRET
Current Intelligence Weekly Summary
: it igencg weekly summary
congo
pri >mbe.|
Adoula and TshoabG on arch held ao initial meeting reportedly devoted tothe problems" and then got together for vate session. Tshombe,I
absence from Leopoldvillearrival, lsoodhas apparently settledandongsay that
Adoula's arch trip to Coquilhatville, in Equateur Province, was required for political reasons. Adoula, who is of course Interested in trying to Impress on Tshombe that he isrovincial leader, claims he had doword that Tshombe was com!ng.
The two sides havoworkedchedule of daily meetings, but there is as yet no information on the substantive content of the talks held so far. Adoula, pessimistic and sensitive to charges that be let Tshombe "off the hook" at Kltooa last December, ls trying to play the meetings in asey as possible. The primeappears less flexible, probably reflecting thepressure on bim toto his followers some progress on the Katanga problemrowing awareness that he may be in serious political trouble unless he can do so.alk
louiadraft constitution which establishes the primacy of Leopoldville ovor tho
provlnces--could not beby agreement between him and Tshombe and must remain in effect until revised. Adoula said bluatly that "It was time to find out whether Tshombe would or would notther remarks by Adoula suggested that he contlnuertto believe that only force will bring Tshombe around.
Adoula's frustrations are evidentetter he sent onarch to UN chief Gardiner to the effect that unless the Katanga problem were settled by late April, he sould have to withdraw from UN forces the facilities and authoritygiven. Adoulathe UN Command for its lack of support for Leopoldville's efforts to quash Tshombe, accused the UK of aot carrying out its mandate, and charged thatonsequence Tshombe's gendarmerie bad increased its effectiveness and firepower. While OKtend to discount Adoula's resolvehowdown with the UN, his remarks are ln line with his reported new interest in direct bilateral aidthe UN framework. Tho letter may havo boon designed to set the stage for some move in that direction if his talks with Tshombe fall.
Tshombe gives everythat he will hold to his long-standing position of autonomy for Katangaoose Congo federation. The position papers prepared for Tshombe support thla. and economic concessions suggested in return foroughposition. While the
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indicated tbat Tshombe would agree to ship ores by the former Matadi route, toto tbe central government budget, and toortion or thc Congo's public debt, Katanga would continue toall mining export taxesolitical settlement,eparate currency, nnd retainercent ol all foreign exchange earnings-While be negotiates with Adoula, Tshombe ls alsopolitical maneuvers designed to weaken tho prime minister's position. Tshombe's main effort appears to be toward awith Baluba leaders from northern Katanga tounited Katanga" and undercutttempts to spilt off the north. Besides pointing out to the Balubas tbat If the province were split they would be left with the unproductive part, Tshombe is reportedly Offering them governmentin Katangahare ln its revenues. Tshombe's Conakat party Is pushing this line ln Leopoldvllle, and his minister of interior, llunongo,eace mission ln the Baluba area of central Katanga.
onakat-Baluba reconciliation appears to bo at the coro of Tshombe-'s maneuvers, there is evidence that Tshomb* is trying to convert other present and potential antl-Adoula support within the Congolese parliament and in ths provinces. He has reportedly nskod Joseph Kasongo, former Congo Assembly presidenteader of Lumumba's oid National Congolese Movement elegation to Ellsabeth-vilie, and he has also agreed toonakat delegation to an MNC-sponsored congress ofLeopoldvllle groups in in late April or early May. The enbassy believes that the principal Baluba leader, Jason Sendwc, one of Adotiln's vice prcnicrs, will opposo the scheme, but notos that other lessor Baluba loaders are tenpted, and an alignment between Tshombe's Conakat party and other parties may develop. The Katangan youth group's cull for the release of Gizenga may be part of an attempt to make a line-up of radicals with Tshombe's Conakat more palatable.
Gizenga, although Still out ofay produce still another problen for Adoula. He is reported to beunger strike unless he ls released or tried soon. Should he follow through on this threat, tho propaganda ennpaignove could gencrato might force Adoula to take further steps against him and thereby create more strains between moderate and radical forces.
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