14. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance 1
SUBJECT
- U.S. Policy to Angola
The President has recently seen two intelligence reports on Angola. The first related to West African aid for UNITA.2 In response to this report, the President asked what policy are we following with respect to UNITA and Neto. The President stated that we should push openly for Cuban troop withdrawal and recognition of UNITA as a legitimate political force. He further stated that we should call for South Africa to stay out of the Angola situation.
The second report dealt with Angolan relations with the U.S. 3 The report stated that President Neto may send a senior official to Nigeria during the President’s visit to make a direct appeal for U.S. diplomatic recognition of his regime. In response to this, the President stated that he does not intend to recognize the Neto government.
[Page 26]Please respond to the President’s query on U.S. policy to Angola as soon as possible.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 4, Angola: 1/77–12/78. Secret. An unknown hand wrote in the upper right-hand corner: “dispatched 10/18 10:30 a.m. c[op]y to Richardson also sent.”↩
- Not found.↩
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- Brzezinski initialed “ZB” above his typed signature.↩