161. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford1
SUBJECT
- Assistance to Portugal
The purpose of this memorandum is to elicit your decision on a proposal to increase Security Supporting Assistance to Portugal in FY ’76 from $20 million to $55 million as a response to a Portuguese request for our aid in resettling Angolan refugees. Your decision is needed now so that we may discuss the proposed assistance level with Foreign Minister Antunes during his visit here October 10.
The current estimate is that 250,000 refugees will shortly be resident in Portugal. The 100,000 refugees now there have put serious strains on the Portuguese economy, already weakened by the continuing political unrest. The refugees also have shown themselves a po [Page 552] tent political force, willing to take political action to remedy what they see as government neglect of their needs.
Under these circumstances I believe we should increase our assistance to Portugal, both as a humanitarian gesture and to prevent the kind of refugee discontent which could further destabilize the new and struggling Azevedo Government. Moreover, I believe it would be useful to announce our decision on increased aid during the forthcoming visit of Portuguese Foreign Minister Antunes. This visit will permit us again to emphasize the significance we attach to a moderate, democratic Portuguese government—with Communists excluded from positions of influence. Our assistance to the Azevedo government will underscore our sincere interest in working with a moderate government.
In my opinion, an additional $35 million of Security Supporting Assistance to Portugal would be adequate to assist the Portuguese in their resettlement effort, and would constitute an unambiguous political signal of our intent to work with moderate forces. Accordingly, I recommend that you approve increasing the Administration’s proposed Security Support Assistance level for Portugal from $20 million to $55 million and approve the attached memorandum from me to Under Secretary of State Ingersoll authorizing the Department of State to discuss this proposal with Foreign Minister Antunes.
OMB interposes no objection.
- Summary: Kissinger sought Ford’s approval of an increase
in security supporting assistance for Portugal.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Europe and Canada, Box 10, Portugal (6). Secret. Sent for action. Ford initialed his approval of Kissinger’s recommendation. In telegram 5547 from Lisbon, September 20, the Embassy assessed the government reorganization that resulted in Azevedo’s promotion to Prime Minister as “a sharp break with Goncalves’ accelerating slide to the left and a stinging defeat for the Communists.” The Embassy concurred in Antunes’ suggestion that “US should understand that this is an important turning point in democratic evolution of Portugal;” the Embassy also agreed with assessment of Antunes and Soares that Azevedo’s government “is worthy of immediate and substantial US support.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, 1975, [no film number])
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