Office of the Historian

105. National Security Study Memorandum 2241

Washington, May 26, 1975.

TO

  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The Deputy Secretary of State
  • The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

  • United States Policy Toward Angola

The President has directed a study of United States policy toward Angola. The study should analyze United States interests and objectives in Angola in both the immediate and post-independence future. The study should then project the possible ranges of political evolution in Angola, both before and after independence, and propose options for United States policies that take into account United States interests and objectives.

The study should examine, among others, the following elements:

  • —The potential for increased civil strife, or civil war, in Angola and its impact on the transition to independence;
  • —The relative political, economic and military strengths (and their political orientation) of the three independence movements and their leadership;
  • —The role of Portugal and neighboring African states, including South Africa, as well as an assessment of likely efforts on their part to shape the future of Angola;
  • —The extent of the involvement, past and future, of the Soviet Union and China in political developments in Angola;
  • —The prospects for and likely pattern of economic development in Angola and its need for development assistance or for aid in settling refugees;
  • —Possible role of international organizations (e.g., UN, OAU, UNICEF, and UNHCR) in promoting stability in Angola and providing other assistance (e.g., refugee relief and resettlement); and
  • —Likely Congressional and public attitudes toward alternative United States policies.

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The study should be prepared by the NSC Interdepartmental Group for Africa2 and be forwarded by June 30, 1975 to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs for review by the Senior Review Group prior to consideration by the President.

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSDMs and NSSMs, Box 2, NSSMs File, NSSM 224. Secret. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.↩
  2. Document 109.↩