Office of the Historian

434. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tanganyika1

Washington, September 2, 1965, 5:21 p.m.

575. Ref: Dar’s 394 to Dept.2 Leo’s 386 to Dept.3 Lisbon’s 88 to Dept.4 Notal. While regrouping of moderate nationalist elements desirable, particularly to counter MPLA, believe on balance we should not get involved internal nationalist matters, especially personal differences, by acting as go-between. Also danger of leak. Similarly do not wish intervene in strictly African matter by appearing endorse Savimbi’s request with Kapwepwe. Therefore if reply to Savimbi required, you may wish suggest he contact Nigerians or other appropriate African Mission.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 30–2 ANG. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Drafted by Looram and Officer in Charge of Angola, Mozambique, and Portuguese Guinea Affairs Lambert Heyniger; cleared by Deputy Director of the Office of Central African Affairs William E. Schaufele, Director of the Office of Central African Affairs L. Dean Brown, and Funseth; and approved by Deputy Director for Eastern African Affairs Edward W. Mulcahy. Repeated to Leopoldville, Lusaka, and Lisbon.↩
  2. Telegram 394 from Dar-es-Salaam, September 2, reported that Jonas Savimbi, ex-Foreign Minister of the GRAE, had asked for Embassy assistance in transmitting messages to Holden Roberto and Kapwepwe that he was ready to discuss reconciliation. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Dated August 30. (Ibid., POL TUN–US)↩
  4. Dated September 1. (Ibid., POL PORT–US)↩