1. BY ONE OF THOSE NOT SO HAPPY COINCIDENCES SALONGO
FEB 7 PUBLISHED STORY, ATTRIBUTED TO DIRECTOR OF TRAINING,
ENTITLED "140 PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS ARRIVING KINSHASA".
FOREIGN MINSTER BULA WANTED EXPLANATION. WHEN I SAW HIM
LATE FEB 7 I GAVE HIM COPY DIRECTOR CROSSON'S MEMORANDUM
TO ME OF SAME DATE, PREPARED AFTER INVESTIGATION, AND
DENYING THAT TRAINING OFFICER HAD SPOKEN RECENTLY TO ANYONE
IN PRESS. FOREIGN MINISTER THEN INFORMED ME CITOYEN
MBUYI "OF YOUR INFORMATION SERVICE" HAD GIVEN STORY TO
AZAP CORRESPONDENT FEB 5. I REPLIED I HONESTLY HAD NO
RECOLLECTION OF WHO MBUYI WAS AND COULD ASSURE HIM THAT
STATEMENT WAS UNAUTHORIZED. (IT TURNS OUT MBUYI IS
CROSSON'S NO. 1 ZAIROIS EMPLOYEE.) I ASKED BULA IF
MBUYI HAD GONE TO AZAP OR HAD AZAP GONE TO HIM. HE
SAID AZAP CORRESPONDENT CALLED ON INFORMATION
OFFICER REGULARLY AND THAT STORY HAD BEEN GENERATED
IN COURSEOF SUCH PERIODIC MEETING.
2. TOWARD END LONG DISCUSSION BULA RETURNED TO SUBJECT
OF PEACE CORPS IN GENERAL, SAYING IT WAS BECAUSE
IMPORTANCE ZAIRE ATTACHED TO GOOD RELATIONS AND
RECOGNITION THAT PCV'S ARE "BELIEVERS" WHOSE PERSONAL
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CONSCIENCES MIGHT NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH ZAIRIAN VIEWS
THAT ONE COULD REMOVE POTENTIAL CONFLICT BY REMOVING
PEACE CORPS. I REPLIED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS WERE
"BELIEVERS" IN THEORY THAT BY WORKING FOR AND WITH
ZAIRIANS THEY WOULD MAKE PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF ZAIRE. IDEA THAT ONE COULD AVOID TROUBLE
BY EXPELLING PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS COULD EQUALLY WELL
BE APPLIED TO CHINESE AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIANS, ROMAINIAN
TEACHERS, BELGIAN, AND AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN. I SAID
I UNDERSTOOD THAT AS MATTER OF FACT NEAR KIKWIT ZAIROIS,
CHINESE AND PCV'S ARE WORKING IN COOPERATIVE AND
COMPLEMENTARY FASHION ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. I
APPROVED OF THIS AND HOPED HE DID.
3. HE TURNED DISCUSSION BACK TO RELIGIOUS ISSUES. I SAID
IF SUCH CONFLICTS OF CONSCIENCE AROSE PCV'S KNEW THAT
THEY HAD TO KEEP THEIR VIEWS TO THEMSELVES OR GET OUT.
WE LEFT IT THERE.
4. COMMENT: AT NO TIME DURING THIS SOMEWHAT TRICKY
DISCUSSION DID BULA REITERATE PEACE CORPS MUST LEAVE
NOR DID HE ASK ME WHEN THEY WERE GOING. AT NO TIME
DID I SAY THEY WERE STAYING. WHILE SOME AMBIGUITY
PERISTS, I JUDGE MOBUTU HAS LET BULA KNOW HE CHANGED
HIS MIND. TEST WILL COME IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT
WE EVER GET ANOTHER OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS.
IN MEANTIME, IT INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT EXPIRING PCV
VISAS ARE BEING RENEWED BY FOREIGN MINISTRY.
HINTON
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