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

180. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Zambia¹

Washington, February 18, 1976, 0401Z.

38733. For Ambassador from Schaufele. Subject: Message to Kaunda.

1. You are instructed to seek a meeting with President Kaunda at the earliest possible time. You should make the following points:

• —The United States not only shares with Zambia disappointment over the outcome in Angola but also wishes to express to President Kaunda our appreciation for the concern we know he feels over the prospect of an unfriendly Soviet-supported government on his western frontier.
• —The US remains firm in its policy to exert every possible effort toward the withdrawal of the Cuban expeditionary force and the minimizing of Soviet influence in Angola. It wishes to work with all other concerned governments to this end.
• —In recent days we have taken steps to communicate to all members of the European Community our concern for the future stability of central and southern Africa because of the existence in Angola of a sizable Cuban expeditionary force and a large and potentially troublesome Soviet and Soviet-bloc presence.
• —The USG is anxious to have President Kaunda’s assessment of the nature of Zambia’s short-term relations with the MPLA regime. Does the President believe Zambia will feel it necessary to extend recognition to the MPLA government? If so, what would be the timing?
• —If and when Zambia recognizes the MPLA, what will be Zambia’s attitude toward UNITA? Will it actively help Savimbi continue his guerrilla operations? Will it allow UNITA to use Zambian territory as a sanctuary?
• —The USG still has resources that it can make available to UNITA, in the full realization that the continuance of such aid will be increasingly difficult as the weeks pass.
• —We are asking our European friends to consider seriously at their forthcoming meetings the urgent need for assistance to the economies and to the security of both Zaire and Zambia.
• —Officers in Washington benefited greatly from recent talks with Messrs. Kuwani and Walusiku in gaining an appreciation of the scope of the economic problems which confront Zambia. The USG is concerned with the time factor in the light of the urgency and magnitude of Zambia’s needs as well as the pressing need to present requests for US assistance in the next few weeks to the Congress which is about to begin consideration of next year’s foreign assistance budget. We would appreciate any impetus President Kaunda can give to his government in formulating the requests it is likely to make of the USG. Senators Humphrey and Clark feel encouraged about the chances of success our aid requests on behalf of Zambia are likely to have in the Congress.
• —We trust the President realizes that the US is not in a position to meet all the possible needs of Zambia, but it wishes to play an appropriate part. Therefore, we would welcome information on present Zambian assessment of reactions of others (including IBRD, IMF and other governments) to Zambian approach. We also hope that Zambia will take steps as early as possible to coordinate donor activities and contribution to avoid duplication and to insure that each donor is called upon for the sort of aid that it can provide best. We will continue to encourage other donors and to apprise them of our perception of Zambia’s needs.²

Ingersoll

1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Box 8, Zambia—State Department Telegrams, From SecState—Nodis. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Mulcahy, cleared by Kissinger (per Secto 4013), and approved by Schaufele.
2. Telegram 674 from Lusaka, March 18, reported Kaunda’s appreciation for ongoing U.S. support, including economic assistance for Zambia. (Ibid., National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Box 8, Zambia—State Department Telegrams, To SecState—Nodis (3))