PRESIDENT Ahmadou Ahidjo, who is making a five day visit
to the United States as the guest of President Kennedy, will conclude a
two-day stay in Washington tomorrow and continue his visit in New York.
Although President Ahidjo has
been in this country before, this is his first voyage to America since
his country became independent and since he became its first Chief of State.
The visit has given the two Presidents an opportunity to become personally
acquainted. They have held frank and cordial discussions covering a wide
range of topics of mutual interest to their countries. These included a
number of world problems, in particular the means of accelerating the decolonization
of Africa, and also of other parts of the world and the consolidation of
the independence of young nations. President Kennedy congratulated President
Ahidjo for his successful efforts in the progressive development of his
country, both in combating internal subversion and in achieving the reunification
of the two parts of Cameroon.
The two Presidents noted with
satisfaction the efforts recently undertaken to create African unity. In
this connection President Ahidjo expressed his satisfaction over the role
played by the United States in the framework of United Nations action in
the Congo in order to hasten the re-establishment of the peace and unity
of that country. The United Nations remains, in the view of both Presidents,
the best means whereby nations can discuss issues openly, and the best
instrument for finding solutions to problems that menace the peace of the
world.
In the field of cooperation
the Presidents noted that in addition to a continuing program of economic
aid and technical assistance to the Cameroon, the United States is also
preparing to make a loan to help finance the extension of the trans-Cameroonian
railroad.
The two Presidents agreed to
take steps to encourage commerce and investment between their two countries
and noted that a United States Trade Mission is tentatively scheduled to
visit Cameroon in May 1962.
President Ahidjo and President
Kennedy agreed that the exchange of views made possible by this visit have
reaffirmed that their two countries have many common goals and ideals.
They expressed the conviction that the visit has served to strengthen and
improve the friendly relations between the United States and the Federal
Republic of Cameroon.