The Congo: Tiptoe to the Rescue

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A trifle clumsily, the U.S. last week tried to tiptoe to the rescue of the Congo government. Alarmed at the mounting conquests of leftist-backed warriors and unable to interest friendly African or European countries in helping Premier Moise Tshombe's beleaguered government, Washington decided to "strengthen" its military and economic aid.

Off to Leopoldville last week winged four C-130 Hercules transports, which the State Department said would be used to airlift Tshombe's troops and supplies to rebel-threatened areas. Aboard the big planes were 44 hand-picked U.S. paratroopers—equipped with Jeeps, bazookas, grenade launchers and machine guns. What would they be used for? Well, said State, they would guard the planes.

Oh? Just as eyebrows were going up, three U.S. helicopters followed the paratroopers into Leopoldville, and the line was hastily changed. The helicopters would be flown by U.S. pilots on "rescue and logistical missions" for Tshombe's army, and the paratroopers would ride shotgun. But not, said a briefing officer in Leopoldville, as combat troops. Question: Might not their shotgun duties get them into combat situations? Answer: "I cannot comment on that kind of hypothetical question." Still later, another "official" line was that the helicopters would not be used to help Tshombe at all, and had been sent only for possible evacuation of American citizens.

Senatorial Outcry. Whatever their purpose, the paratroopers and helicopters were hardly the first U.S. involvement in the Congo war. Since last month, some 70 American officers and men have been working closely with the Congolese army on guerrilla warfare and paratroop techniques. In addition, the U.S. has given Tshombe's army about ten C-47 transport planes, ten helicopters, 70 Jeeps, 250 trucks, and seven of the ubiquitous little T-28 trainers that have proved so useful on strafing and bombing missions against Communist guerrillas in Southeast Asia. Washington was even thoughtful enough to provide the pilots—and sensitive enough to American public opinion to have recruited them from the ranks of anti-Castro Cubans.

But what would the public say about the latest shipment of U.S. aid? In the Senate, Mississippi Democrat John Stennis, long a supporter of a strong foreign policy, rose to ask if the U.S. was about to enter "another undeclared war," then warned solemnly: "I strongly oppose letting the Congo become our African Viet Nam."