452. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Zambia1
SUBJECT
- Memorandum of Conversation Covering the President’s Meeting With President Kaunda.
1. S Entire text.
2. There follows memcon of the President’s meeting with President Kaunda at the White House on October 8, 1987.
Begin text:
Memorandum of Conversation
SUBJECT
- Meeting with President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, October 8, 1987
Participants
- The President
- Secretary Shultz
- Secretary Baker
- Chief of Staff Howard Baker
- National Security Advisor Frank C. Carlucci
- Deputy Chief of Staff Kenneth Duberstein
- Acting Administrator Jay Morris
- Assistant Secretary Crocker
- U.S. Amb. to Zambia Paul J. Hare
- Herman J. Cohen, NSC
- President Kenneth David Kaunda
- Amb. Nalumino Mundia
- Minister of Finance Gibson Chigaga
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Luke J. Mwananshiku
- Special Assistant to the President for Political Affairs Henry Meebelo
- Special Assistant to the President for Economic Affairs J.C. Mapoma
- Special Assistant to the President for Press, Social, and Cultural Affairs Naphy M. Nyalugwe
- Roving Amb. Paul F.J. Lusaka
Date, Time, Place
October 8, 1987, 11:00 a.m.–1:40 p.m., Oval Office, Cabinet Room, Residence (tete-a-tete—Oval Office)
[Omitted here is material unrelated to the Western Sahara.]
Western Sahara Problem
Secretary Shultz asked President Kaunda to give his view as OAU Chairman of the Western Sahara problem. The Secretary said that we talk to both Algeria and Morocco about the issue and that we support the initiatives of the UN Secretary General. The problem, however, seems to go on and on without any solution.
President Kaunda said that as Chairman of the OAU, he has met with President Bendjedid of Algeria and President Azziz of the Saraoui republic (Polisario). He has not yet met with King Hassan of Morocco who has not been available, mainly because Morocco is not in the OAU, and the King does not attend summit meetings. Kaunda said that the UN Secretary General will be sending a technical team to collect data. After that, we will have to figure out the next step. Kaunda said he asked the UN Secretary General to continue with his present line which is to find out what the population was when the Spanish gave up control of the Spanish Sahara. “Morocco has been cheating by infiltrating Moroccan citizens to make sure any referendum will result in Morocco winning control.
We must ask the original residents their opinion, not the Moroccans.” Secretary Baker said that it must be a very difficult problem to decide [Page 912] what is the right cutoff date for determining population. Also, it is possible that the Polisario have also infiltrated people into the territory. President Kaunda said that the UN technical report might be helpful in this regard. King Hassan dragged his feet on the population count to the point that it is a very difficult problem right now. He clearly wanted to manipulate the data, President Kaunda said.
[Omitted here is material unrelated to the Western Sahara.]
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number]. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted in the White House; cleared by Larry Napper (AF/S), Waugh (S/S–O), Michael Klosson (S/S), and Green; approved by Chas Freeman (AF). The text of the telegram is also scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XXVI, Southern Africa, 1985–1988.↩