STATUS OF OUR CONSULATE GENERAL IN LUANDA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 2, 2010
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: October 29, 1975
• Content Type: MEMO

C;,,,r o Z~ +~~
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
ACTION MEMDRANI~-L1M
SECRET NdAI5
Status of Dur Consulate General in Luanda
_.___. -
T0: The Secretary
F~ktOM: , ; AF. -Nathaniel ~~~ ~~
The Prohlem
The security situat%on in Luanda is deteriorating
and will get worse after the Portuguese withdraw from
Angola on November l1 Leaving Luanda and a considerable
hinter~.and under MPLA control. Added pressure an MPL~,
is likely to develop if FNLA and L'NTTA are able. to follow
up on recent military gains. There is a definite anal
increasing potential threat to the safety of official
Americans in Luanda. The immediate problem we face a.s
whether or not to maintain our Consulate General there.
A subsequent paper will address the problem of recognition
'l of a successor,regime in Angola..
Background/Analysis
One 'element in our policy toward maintaining our
post ~in Luanda has been the expectation that it might
prov~a..possible to continue. to maintain a resence there
eva~n after the partu u i 25X1
~t Was also a:n our
ma.nds when we agreed to requests from the UK and Canada
to represent their interests in Angola., This expectation
no ].anger .appears valid.
Xn the months fallowing the outbreak of open hos~-
tilities between the MPLA and its rivals last April, ,the
MP~,A has taken control of Luanda and of about 30 percent
of A.ngola's territory and population., It has rejected
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
arty ~.dea of political 'accommodation with FNLA and UIVI,TA
and will very probably lay claim to complete sovereignty
dace the Portuguese depart. These two movements are
giving'consideratxon to forming a rival government 'to
that of MPLA outside of Luanda, Last minute efforts
may be developed by the Portuguese to br~.ng the three
.movements together, and an OAU initiative to achieve
this has'also been undertaken; but we expect these efforts
to feria..
The shaky military equilibrium that .followed P+IPLA
successes in July and ,August has collapsed in recent weeks
as FNLA and UNITA forces have advanced into previously-~
held MPLA territory. FNLA and UNxTA may lack the capability
(ox even the intention? to reoccupy Luanda ~.n the imme-
diate future, but they do intend to beseige the city and
keep it under pressure. The security situation in Luanda
is going to deteriorate further when the Portuguese. with-
draw grid as MPLA comes. under further military attack.
Under these circumstances our Consulate General's
..position needs to be reassessed. After the l~ortuguese leave
it will have no legal basis and would survive at the
sufferance of MPLA. If, as seems likely, the MPLA ex-
p~riences further reverses, and particularly if FLEC or
~aix+e moves into Cabinda, MPLA will very likely blame the
United States (i.e., CIA) and focus its hostility on
Darr post,and its. personnel. There would be nothing tv
preolude MPLA from harrassing or .arresting Consulate.
General personnel or making a surprise off-hour raid on
the~Gonsulate. It~has no Marine guards and sensitive
material there would be very vulnerable to seizure.
Consul General Killoran has stressed in a recent
telegram the increasing risks to personnel security that
appear to lie immediately ahead, and he urges that. he be
authorized to .close the post and evacuate all personnel,
preferably on the last .flight of our airlift leaving
Luanda on November 3. We have reason to believe that
closing our post would spark the departure of most of
~.he remaining Americans, British and Canadians. resident
in Angola.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
 ~~? No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
would be difficult to maintain an official
~
t.
- presence in Luanda after November 11 w.ithout~having offi-
c3,al contact with the MPLA+s illegitimate minority
reg3.me. It is likely that the MPLA would try to parlay
such contacts into implied recognition. Even if we made
clear that maintenance of our Consulate in no way implies'
recpg~ttion, its very presence could serve to attribute.
a der~r~e~of legitimacy to an MPLA regime and thereby
have a negative impact on the poI'~.tical aspirations of
the FNLA and UN1TA and any rival regime(s) they might 25X1
establish.
Yf We close the post we would wish to inform certain
interested governments in .advance, e.g., Portugal,
U~, and Canada. Dur decision as to what government should
be asked to assume protective powers would have to wait
until,we determine what countries intend to retain repre-
sentation in Luanda following independence.
Some countries-UK, South Africa and Zaire-have
already closed their consulates. Countries currently
maintaining consulates, though wa.th reduced staffs, are
Italy, Germany,' Brazil, Belgium and France. We do not
know the plans of these countries, but we understand
that the Group~of Nine plans to discuss a common policy
on Angola in a meeting on actober 3Q,
.SECRET NDDSB.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
f c
~,cant or
rein a signs f
We have weighed the. pros and cons of ~tssuing a
nt eXplwining our departure in._terms o~ just the
.. stateme
'security situation cir in terms of our unwiZ~pinpnregime
lend authora.ty to an illegitimate minaWetYbElieve on
by ,our continued presence in Luanda. cala:ta.ca7:
b$Zan,~e that a departure statement without a p
message would probably su~~ice to underscore far other.,,
By not
go~~rnmerits the significance of Werwau].3~Iessen possible
attacking the MPLA as we leave,
future difficulties if wwhil.chetheeM~PLA has~ma,naged ton
embassy in an Angola rn
e
'
Close down our Consulate General, preferably
1
'The ~ tions
gri.,or to November l l ?
~idvarita es
-~ Would avoid exposing our Personnel and sense-five
material to risks posed by MPLA rule.
Would underscore our opposition to an MPLA minority
;.government.
-~-- Would be favorably viewed by the other two move-
b Mobutu,.. and perhaps by Kaunda and other moderate
meritsr y
Af~'ican leaders.
_- M3.ght serve to d~,scourage some other governments
.from recognizing an MPLP, regime.
Tf we depart before N~LA takeover, w~: would be
ex 3ain our departure a.n neutral terms thate ~~ht
....,able to F
pave_the way~for our return to Luanda evenosi~iMP~'
~,?.,,n the war in a strong p
W luo d curtail our ability to communicate with Ln.e
~-,
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
SECRET NC)DTS
-~- W4uld preclude protecta.on of the few remaining
- American citizens (about.. SO are there .now) and, invest--
ments ($250,OOO,D00)?
Ma.ght induce the MPLP. to retaliate .against US
or investments.
2, Maintain the Consulate, General
Advantages
~~.
~--~ We would continue to be in a position to maintain
some contact with the MPLA without necessarily recognizing
it foirmally.
We would be in a position to exert efforts to
protect American lives and property.
Da.sadyantac~es
-- Would.expase our personnel and sensitive material
to risks posed by MP LA rule.
-~ Could be interpreted bX some as tacit U5 ccansent
to an~MPI,A assumption of power, thereby encouraging some
governments to recognize MPLA regime and weakening the
.position of ENLA and iJN1TA. _
bureau views
AF believes that the greatly increased risks to the
safety of official US personnel outweigh the advantages
which would accrue by keeping them there, ,and that we
should therefore make preparations now to close the
Consulate.
SECRET N4DIS
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
APFxove Disapprove
Tf you approve of the above, that you approve our
a.nforxnng the Governments of Portugal, Canada and the U~
beforehand.
Approve Disapprove'
ALTERNAT;IVELy, that we maintain the Consulate
Genera3`~`an~' request Consul, General Killaran's views as to
hc~w best to diminish the risks to personnel safety that
.seem to lxe ahead.
Approve Disapprove
Drafted:' E~'~'ugit/WLCutler/RAndrew:lar
x21637:1Q/29/75
Clearances: EUR:ERowell
INR:Mr. Hyland
P:Mr. Wisner
S/P:Mr. Petterson
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
SECRET. NODIS
I~crammendat.ion :
~~ That you approve the closing o~ our post~`in Luanda
and the evacuation of its personnel prior to November. ll.`
Option 1).
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/02 : LOC-HAK-102-5-15-6