Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa

358. Department of State Policy Directive⁰

PD/AF-1.1

Washington, March 15, 1962.

SUBJECT

• Angola

REFERENCE

• Presidential Task Force on Portuguese Territories in Africa

OBJECTIVES

In their relations with officials of Portugal, the United Nations, the North Atlantic Council and interested governments, every effort will be made to achieve the following:

I. Reform in Angola

A. Tasks

1. Establishment of a program of reform within the framework of eventual self-determination which is acceptable to the Africans, or which at a minimum reduces the struggle in Angola from military to political means.

2. Encouragement of the Portuguese to recognize the positive and legitimate interest of the United Nations in the Angolan and Portuguese African questions.

B. Proposed Actions

1. Continue to urge Portugal to move toward a prompt implementation of a significant reform program and to extend a degree of cooperation to the UN. Such approaches are to be made through normal diplomatic channels, although as a measure designed to point out the gravity with which we view the crisis in Portuguese Africa, we remain alive to the possibility of sending a special Presidential envoy to Lisbon to talk with Salazar.

2. Consult appropriately with Great Britain and France, and urge them to make similar bilateral approaches. We consider as other possible intercessors Spain, Brazil and/or the Vatican.

3. Consider the utilization at an appropriate time of the North Atlantic Council as a means of impressing upon Portugal the importance attached by its NATO allies to the need for a major change in its colonial policy.

4. As the questions of Angola and Portuguese Africa arise at the UN, press for moderate and constructive measures aimed at providing for orderly transition toward eventual full self-determination in the territory.

II. Objectives re African States

A. Tasks

1. Understanding and support within the world community, particularly among the newly independent African states, for the U.S. position. In so doing, disassociate ourselves equally from programs seeking extremist solutions to the Angolan problem and from any suggestion of support for Portuguese colonialism.

B. Proposed Actions

1. Make all possible efforts to insure that MAP equipment supplied to Portugal, or other U.S. military material, is not diverted to Africa and is not employed for other than NATO purposes.

2. Continue to deny authorization of licenses for the commercial export of arms from the U.S. to either side.

3. As appropriate, advise select African governments on a continuing basis of our diplomatic and other efforts to bring about an equitable and mutually beneficial solution to the Angolan problem. This is to be accomplished through the briefing of African leaders by our UN delegation at New York, and through normal diplomatic channels.

III. Economic and Educational Assistance

A. Tasks

1. Induce Portugal through offers of economic assistance to accelerate movement toward effective and significant territorial reform.

2. Direct educational and relief assistance to qualified Angolans abroad.

B. Proposed Actions

1. Offer to provide U.S. economic assistance, primarily in the form of manpower training, to help develop technical and administrative skills of the Africans within Angola. In this connection, the U.S. has offered Portugal economic assistance in the magnitude of $3 million this year and $5 million next year to supplement its own program of economic and social reform. Although the initial Portuguese reaction was adverse, we are still prepared, if they subsequently show some interest in the offer, to send technical experts to Lisbon to negotiate mutually acceptable programs in the field of education and work out necessary details.

2. Should the Portuguese prove receptive to this offer and at the same time demonstratively liberalize their colonial policy, we should grant reasonable requests for other types of economic assistance in accordance with existing commitments and monies available. In addition, we should seek assistance from the UK, NATO countries, possibly Brazil and other African countries as well as from Portugal itself.

3. Continue and expand if necessary U.S. assistance to refugees suffering from the Angolan conflict.

4. Provide and augment as necessary US supported educational programs for qualified Angolan students both in the United States and in Leopoldville.

IV. Azores

A. Task

1. Retention of Azores base rights.

B. Proposed Action

1. Implement the foregoing quietly insofar as possible and in a manner designed to minimize the possibility of losing Azores base rights.

[Here follows a list of actions to be undertaken by the posts in Lisbon, London, Paris, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Leopoldville, Dar-es-Salaam, Salisbury, and Luanda and USRO and USUN.]

0. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Brubeck Series, Portuguese Africa. Secret. No drafting information appears on the source text. On March 2, the NSC Standing Group discussed and agreed in general with this Policy Directive. (Record of Actions; Department of State,S/S-NSC Files: Lot 70 D 265, NSC Standing Group—March 2, 1962)