POL LUS Rounedy Department of State Robert F. TELEGRAM STATES OF AMERICA UNCLASSIFIED 675 26 PARE JI CONN 13/68 1113262 6/11/68 Bune 33 ACTION EL: 26 B.13/01 INFO JIAF JIAE JIAFE JIAFL GUIDE 30/6PM 04/9H GOLINR 07/OL 13/8NSE QNSC QNSSC 10P NSC 1/1SP 02/3S 20/5S 20,USIA 12/5AM 03/6P 02/5R 02/8R 01/09 W 11:13/32 JUN 66 FM AMEMBASSY BONN TO SELECASE WASHDC 81212 UNCLAS BCN 131313 SUSJETS SENATOR KENNEDY MENU.IAL OUSERVANCES Io OUSERYANCES AT STATE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHMENTS IN Io OSERVANCEES AT STATE DEPARIMENT ESTABILISMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH SE ATOR ROBERT KENNESY'S DEATH WERE AS FOLLOWS! 20 The FLAGS AT THE RESIDENCE AND CANCANCY HERE PLACED AT 20 THE PLAGS A THE RESIDENTIAL AND CANCERY. TABLE IN THE HALFHAINST A CUNDOLENCE BOOK HAS PLACEED ON SENTATOR KENEDY, HALFTRAIST BY ENTRANCE AND TWO LATES CANDLES. A TABLE IN. THE FLINKED BY FENCE AND TWO LIMITED CANDLESS. ALMOST 1,200 PERSONS FLINKD BY FENANCE AND THE AMERICAN CHAPEL. ALMSADORS SINNED BY THE BUDOK. AMONG THEM WERE MINISTER SCHILLEDES THE AMBASSADORS The PROPRIXIMATELY AND SO COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE AMBSASSADOR FROM THE SSR, SO MAYOR OF COLIGNE. 2. THE SEVERA, AMMASSADURS INCLUDING THOSE FROM ITALY, SWEDEN, TA. ISTANJAN INDIA, PHILIPPINES, INC. AND JURAN SENT PERSONALLY, THE TA.ISIANA INDIA PHILIPINES AND JULIAN SENT PERFORMED THE LETERS MILITE SENATORS, AND WOUNDED AND CALLED PERSONALLY AT THE RESIDENTAL AFTER HIS DEATH. SEVERAL LEADING GERMAN PERSONAL- MILITES ALSO WROTE PERSONAL WONDERED TO THE AMASSADORE INCLUDED IN TES ALSO WRITE PERSONAL SESSAGES TO THE ASSADOR. INCLUDED IN GROUP ALSO WROKE FRANK-JOSEF STAUSS, THE RIGHT REVERED HERMANN <loc_891><loc_772><loc_891><loc_771><loc_891><loc_784><loc_115><loc_784>KUNST (REPRESENTATIVE AT THE COUNCIL OF PROTESTANT CHURCHES

The documents detail international reactions to Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968, with telegrams from U.S. embassies in Bonn, Freetown, Tripoli, Amsterdam, Kinshasa, Luanda, Seoul, Conakry, Ankara, Lourenco Marques, Jakarta, Ibadan, Montevideo, Durban, Brussels, Nagoya, Bombay, Lusaka, Benghazi, and Pine Town. These communications describe diplomatic condolences, public mourning, media coverage, and political commentary across multiple regions. In Bonn, Germany, flags were flown at half-mast, a condolence book was placed at the U.S. residence, and dignitaries from over 20 countries sent messages of mourning. Freetown’s press included both respectful reports and critical editorials, while Tripoli hosted a memorial service at Wheelus Air Base with Catholic and diplomatic participation. Amsterdam held a public memorial attended by thousands, featuring remarks by Consul General Harold E. Howland. Kinshasa’s government condemned U.S. political violence, linking it to critiques of American capitalism. Luanda noted widespread emotional reactions in South Korea, including a *Choson Ilbo* column reflecting on the Kennedy family’s history and resilience. In Conakry, Guinea, rumors linked the assassination to a conspiracy involving London and Washington, while Ankara’s statement condemned the murder as “planned” with ties to the White House and CIA-Military-Industrial complex. Lourenco Marques had extensive press coverage but sparse editorial criticism, though some editorials accused the U.S. of systemic violence. Jakarta’s media compared Kennedy to Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, while Ibadan reported mixed reactions: sympathy from Nigerians and harsh critiques in local publications. Uruguay’s Senate expressed solidarity with the U.S., acknowledging the tragedy without endorsing conspiracy theories. South Africa held inter-racial memorial services with press coverage highlighting Kennedy’s advocacy for racial equality, including a mass led by Cardinal Valerian Gracías in Bombay. Editorials in Natal newspapers criticized U.S. policies and speculated on conspiracy theories linking RFK’s death to broader political movements. Belgian media discussed societal violence and questioned American foreign policy, while Japanese reports emphasized public grief and critiques of U.S. social issues. Libyan editorials warned of anti-American sentiment exploiting the assassination to undermine Arab-U.S. ties. In South Africa, GCABASHE (likely a misspelling or variant of “Gcabashe”) signed a condolence book with his family at Pine Town on June 7, 1968, and was advised by U.S. officials to avoid attending memorial services in Durban due to potential threats. South African police monitored Kennedy mourners and their activities.  

Key People  
- Robert F. Kennedy (assassinated)  
- President Lyndon B. Johnson (mentioned in condolences)  
- Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy (recipient of sympathy)  
- Harold E. Howland (U.S. Consul General in Amsterdam)  
- Minister Schillede (German dignitary)  
- Prime Minister of Freetown (expressed condolences)  
- Mohamed Al-Khmaildi (Libyan official)  
- Ahmad Fahmi al-Hammali (Libyan undersecretary)  
- Joseph P. Kennedy (father of RFK, referenced in Korean newspaper column)  
- Alberto E. Abdala (President of Uruguay’s Senate)  
- José Pastor Salvana (Secretary of Uruguay’s Senate)  
- Archbishop Dennis Murley (presided over memorial in Durban)  
- Cardinal Valerian Gracías (led memorial in Bombay)  
- President Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia, referenced in telegrams)  
- Foreign Minister Kamanga (Zambia)  
- GCABASHE (likely a misspelling or variant of “Gcabashe”)  
- Mrs. Luthuli (spouse of GCABASHE)  

Key Locations  
- Bonn, Germany (U.S. Embassy and condolence events)  
- Freetown, Sierra Leone (press coverage and diplomatic reactions)  
- Tripoli, Libya (memorial service at Wheelus Air Base)  
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (public memorial service)  
- Kinshasa, Zaire (government condemnation of U.S. political violence)  
- Luanda, Angola (emotional public reaction and media analysis)  
- Seoul, South Korea (*Choson Ilbo* newspaper column)  
- Conakry, Guinea (rumors about conspiracy theories)  
- Ankara, Turkey (statement condemning the murder)  
- Lourenco Marques, Mozambique (press coverage)  
- Jakarta, Indonesia (media comparisons to Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy)  
- Ibadan, Nigeria (mixed public reactions)  
- Montevideo, Uruguay (Senate solidarity statements)  
- Durban, South Africa (inter-racial memorial services)  
- Brussels, Belgium (media coverage and editorials)  
- Nagoya, Japan (public mourning and societal critiques)  
- Bombay, India (memorial mass)  
- Lusaka, Zambia (diplomatic statements on U.S.-Arab relations)  
- Benghazi, Libya (editorial on U.S.-Arab relations)  
- Pine Town, South Africa (condolence book signing)  

Key Events  
- Flags flown at half-mast in Bonn and other locations  
- Condolence book placed at the U.S. residence in Bonn  
- Memorial services in Tripoli, Amsterdam, Freetown, Durban, and Bombay  
- Press coverage in Freetown, Jakarta, Ibadan, and Conakry highlighting mixed reactions to RFK’s assassination  
- Korean newspaper column reflecting on the Kennedy family’s history and American resilience  
- Government condemnation of political violence in Kinshasa  
- U.S. embassy reports on public and media reactions in Africa and Latin America  
- Editorials in Freetown, Jakarta, Ibadan, and Natal criticizing U.S. policies or systemic violence  
- Statements from Turkey’s Peace Congress and Uruguay’s Senate expressing condemnation and solidarity  
- Condolence book opened in Ankara and Lourenco Marques  
- Inter-racial memorial services in Durban (June 8, 1968)  
- Memorial mass at Bombay’s Holy Name Cathedral  
- Zambian diplomatic statements addressing U.S. foreign policy concerns  
- Speculation on conspiracy theories linking RFK’s assassination to broader political movements  
- Signing of a condolence book by GCABASHE and his family at Pine Town on June 7, 1968  
- U.S. officials advising GCABASHE to avoid attending memorial services in Durban due to threats  
- South African police monitoring Kennedy mourners and their activities  

Key Organizations  
- U.S. Department of State (coordinated diplomatic responses)  
- U.S. Embassy Bonn, Freetown, Tripoli, Amsterdam, Kinshasa, Luanda, Seoul, Conakry, Ankara, Lourenco Marques, Jakarta, Ibadan, Montevideo, Durban, Brussels, Nagoya, Bombay, Lusaka, Benghazi, Pine Town (reported reactions)  
- Catholic Church (participated in memorial services)  
- *Choson Ilbo* (South Korean newspaper analyzing U.S. politics and the Kennedy family)  
- Peace Congress (Turkey)  
- Uruguayan Senate  
- Local press outlets in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Belgium, Japan, Libya, South Africa, Zambia  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA, referenced in Belgium and Zambia telegrams)  
- Zambian government (official statements on U.S.-Arab relations)  
- South African Special Branch Police

RFK Declassified Files

pol_6_us_kennedy_06_10_1968_senator_robert_f._kennedy-part_4_of_5.pdf

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