Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXVIII, Southern Africa

100. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Colby to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, September 19, 1974.

SUBJECT

• Mobutu’s Request for Material Support to Holden Roberto

1. In line with the request made to you on 12 August 1974 by Umba di Lutete, Foreign Minister of Zaire, on behalf of President Mobutu, for material help to Holden Roberto of the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA),² we plan to increase substantially our present payment of [less than 1 line not declassified] to Holden Roberto [less than 1 line not declassified]

2. We intend to keep these payments fairly low but high enough to assure President Mobutu that we are sympathetic to his concern about the future regime of an independent Angola. The exact amount would be subject to some negotiation with Roberto, but we would expect it to be not more than [less than 1 line not declassified] We would explain the payments to Roberto as designed to help him during a critical time of his career [1 line not declassified]

W.E. Colby ³

1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Outside the System Chronological File, Box 1. Secret; Sensitive.
2. See Document 99.
3. Colby signed “Bill” above his typed signature.