325. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State 0

Secto 10. Secretary, accompanied by Kohler and McGhee, met with Portuguese Foreign Minister for hour and half May 7, discussion centering entirely on Portuguese African colony question. Following based uncleared memorandum of conversation. Complete memorandum being prepared.1 Secretary opened by assuring Foreign Minister that fundamental US objective was to prevent Soviets from seizing leadership of peoples striving for expression of nationalist feelings and seeking economic development. If Soviets are able to convince new nations that they are in best position to fulfill such aspirations, Communist power would be in position to leap over peripheral free world defenses and flank the NATO citadel. Secretary emphasized US has no desire get Portuguese out of Angola; on the contrary we hope they will be able make arrangements with local inhabitants which will permit them to stay to their mutual benefit. Secretary assured Foreign Minister US desires support Portugal in its problems with its African territories if Portugal will give us something more to support. Crux of matter is not passing public opinion or UN majorities but whole relationship of West with Afro-Asian world.

Foreign Minister gave long, able and occasionally emotional exposition familiar arguments Portuguese African colony case. He voiced complete lack of confidence in UN as forum for dealing with such problems. Since West does not possess parliamentary majority on such issues, UN has become instrument for achievement Soviet policies. Soviets, when out-voted, have no hesitancy in failing to comply, which puts nations of West who do comply in serious disadvantage. If we continue allow UN to solve such problems today, UN will tomorrow be solving such world problems as disarmament and Berlin.

Only after SC action did serious incidents arise in Angola. Although Foreign Minister admitted local participation, he asserted incidents had no relation indigenous nationalism but were direct result invasion from Congo. In granting African countries independence West is not able to impart to them our values, but make them easy prey for [Page 899] Communist exploitation as in Ethiopia, Mali, Guinea and the Sudan. Story is not finally told in Congo which is key to Africa. If Angola through premature grant of independence goes Communist, US should consider strategic consequences loss of roads, railroads, mines and other facilities there and in Mozambique.

Foreign Minister then advised that Portuguese Government had on its own initiative and before US démarche of March 7 been aware of “winds of change” in Africa and had prepared and was ready to advance far-reaching reforms which would have been very impressive even to Afro-Asian nations. Such plans include:

(1)
Economic development, new roads, ports, et cetera;
(2)
Increased education of all types and at all levels;
(3)
Granting of full political and social rights to all regardless of color.

Because of strong Portuguese public reaction to US position in UN and impossibility of appearing to yield under pressure, Portuguese Government had been forced postpone announcement of these reforms. Foreign Minister asserted that present Portuguese Government is last that will cooperate with West. If Portugal loses its colonies, it will be succeeded by a Castro-type government.

In response to question by Secretary as to future Portuguese intentions Foreign Minister replied that Portuguese Government hopes, with end of rainy season which is nearly over and with help military reinforcements now being sent Angola, restore order and then to publish and carry out reforms. This would not be possible, however, if there is in the meantime any additional international criticism or pressure against Portugal. Foreign Minister requested that US in meantime make no public pronouncements regarding Portuguese African colonies and that any further discussions this question be confined to bi-lateral talks or to regular NAC meetings. Secretary expressed appreciation statement Foreign Minister and suggested they hold another discussion before current meeting over. We wished learn more details of Portuguese plans so we could be helpful. Both agreed unnecessary for colony issue to be raised in current meeting. Full minutes follow.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State Central Files, 753.022/5–861. Secret. Repeated to Lisbon, London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, USUN, Lourenco Marques, and Luanda. Rusk was in Oslo for the North Atlantic Council Ministerial meeting, May 8–10.
  2. US/MC/1, not printed. (Ibid., Conference Files: Lot 65 D 366, CF 1862) On May 9 Rusk and Nogueira again discussed the Portuguese colonial question. A memorandum of their conversation, similar to that recorded in this telegram, US/MC/17, is ibid.