Larry Devlin
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Devlin known as Larry Devlin, was a Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) field officer. Stationed for many years in Africa
, he was Station Chief in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
when Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba
was assassinated on 17 January 1961.
and joined the U.S. Army during World War II, rising to the rank of captain.
He entered service with the CIA in 1949, having been recruited out of college by McGeorge Bundy
.
Devlin became Chief of Station in Congo in July 1960, a mere 10 days after the country's independence from Belgium
and shortly before Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba
's two month term in office, dismissal from power and ultimate execution. In his memoir, Devlin reveals that late in 1960, he received instructions from an agent ("Joe from Paris") who was relaying instructions from CIA headquarters that he (Devlin) was to effect the assassination of Lumumba. Various poisons, including one secreted in a tube of toothpaste, were proffered. The directive had come from the CIA Deputy Chief of Plans Dick Bissell
, but Devlin wanted to know if it had originated at a higher level and if so, how high. "Joe" had been given to understand that it had come from President Dwight D. Eisenhower
, but Devlin never knew for sure. Devlin wrote (and said in public speaking engagements) that he felt an assassination would have been "morally wrong" and likely to backfire and work against U.S. interests. In the event, he temporized, neglecting to act, and Lumumba was ultimately murdered by his enemies in Katanga
, allegedly with Belgian government participation. U.S. intelligence was kept apprised.
Devlin supported Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko
in his two coups (14 September 1960 and 24 November 1965). He maintains that it was not a mistake for the U.S. to support this anti-communist, pro-Western strongman in light of larger Cold War concerns.
Later, Devlin served as Station Chief in Laos
and, then, as Chief, Africa Division. He retired from service with the CIA in 1974.
Subsequent to his CIA employment, Devlin and his wife settled in the Congo and became the De Beers
Diamond representative in Kinshasa
, where he socialized widely in the expatriate community during the late-1970s and early 1980s.
In later life, Devlin divided his time between Virginia and Provence
, France.
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
(CIA) field officer. Stationed for many years in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, he was Station Chief in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
when Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis...
was assassinated on 17 January 1961.
Biography
Devlin was raised in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and joined the U.S. Army during World War II, rising to the rank of captain.
He entered service with the CIA in 1949, having been recruited out of college by McGeorge Bundy
McGeorge Bundy
McGeorge "Mac" Bundy was United States National Security Advisor to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson from 1961 through 1966, and president of the Ford Foundation from 1966 through 1979...
.
Devlin became Chief of Station in Congo in July 1960, a mere 10 days after the country's independence from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and shortly before Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis...
's two month term in office, dismissal from power and ultimate execution. In his memoir, Devlin reveals that late in 1960, he received instructions from an agent ("Joe from Paris") who was relaying instructions from CIA headquarters that he (Devlin) was to effect the assassination of Lumumba. Various poisons, including one secreted in a tube of toothpaste, were proffered. The directive had come from the CIA Deputy Chief of Plans Dick Bissell
Richard M. Bissell, Jr.
Richard Mervin Bissell, Jr. was an American Central Intelligence Agency officer responsible for major projects such as the U-2 spy plane and the Bay of Pigs Invasion.-Early years:...
, but Devlin wanted to know if it had originated at a higher level and if so, how high. "Joe" had been given to understand that it had come from President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, but Devlin never knew for sure. Devlin wrote (and said in public speaking engagements) that he felt an assassination would have been "morally wrong" and likely to backfire and work against U.S. interests. In the event, he temporized, neglecting to act, and Lumumba was ultimately murdered by his enemies in Katanga
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
, allegedly with Belgian government participation. U.S. intelligence was kept apprised.
Devlin supported Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...
in his two coups (14 September 1960 and 24 November 1965). He maintains that it was not a mistake for the U.S. to support this anti-communist, pro-Western strongman in light of larger Cold War concerns.
Later, Devlin served as Station Chief in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and, then, as Chief, Africa Division. He retired from service with the CIA in 1974.
Subsequent to his CIA employment, Devlin and his wife settled in the Congo and became the De Beers
De Beers
De Beers is a family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors. De Beers is active in every category of industrial diamond mining: open-pit, underground, large-scale alluvial, coastal and deep sea...
Diamond representative in Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, where he socialized widely in the expatriate community during the late-1970s and early 1980s.
In later life, Devlin divided his time between Virginia and Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, France.
- Devlin's book Chief of Station, Congo is his account of his firsthand experiences and observations in the Congo during the Cold WarCold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. - Seth GreenlandSeth GreenlandSeth Greenland is an American novelist, screenwriter and playwright. He has two published novels, Shining City and The Bones as well as four plays. He is set to release a third novel, The Angry Buddhist, in late 2011...
's satirical 1997 play Jungle Rot appears to be loosely based on Devlin's tenure in the Congo.
External links
- 'Chief of Station' Recalls Congo During Cold War March 13, 2007 Fresh AirFresh AirFresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
- Transcript of Correspondent: Who Killed Lumumba?, featuring Devlin