United Nations beefing up its armed forces in the Congo for probable future attack on Katanga. Norway sending in a number of anti-aircraft batteries. . . . Belgian residents in Elisabethville, Léopoldville demonstrating against UN and Belgian officials in protest at suspected Tshombe sell-out by Belgian Foreign Minister Paul-Henri Spaak. … Head of Union Minière agreed to accompany Spaak to Washington to answer technical questions that might be raised by JFK provided his presence was kept secret. Was furious when Belgian press and then U.S. press blew his journey and implied that Union Minière is anti-Tshombe. . . . It’s still far from certain that Adoula parliament will vote approval of the UN-written federal constitution which the UN-U.S. and Belgium demand Tshombe accept under pain of sanctions.
Diplomatic corps in Washington amused (JFK is not). Some weeks ago the President asked recall of German, French ambassadors. Adenauer complied, de Gaulle said he’d recall his ambassador, but he wouldn’t replace him. Request dropped. . . . A highly-placed Washington source claims the President read the Adlai-addling Sat Eve Post article well before publication; didn’t suggest any changes. . . . Reports that Soviet U-2-type planes are flying surveillance missions over United States from Cuba, persist despite official Administration denials. . . . There’s talk among senators of setting up special subcommittee which would dispatch observers for look-see at world trouble spots in times of crisis. Advantage: The Senate would have a situation report unfiltered by State Department. . . . Canadian Peace Research Institute startled. Poll it took last month showed: 79.3 per cent of Canadians approved strong U.S. stand on Cuba, only 12.7 opposed it. (Recent Gallup Poll on Kennedy’s popularity shows it rose from 61 per cent to 74 per cent after Cuban stand.)
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