‘U.K. aided Angola’

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34099, 11 March 1976, Page 17

‘U.K. aided Angola’

‘By

LESLIE GELB,

ot the "Veu> York Tinies." though X.Z.P.A i

WASHINGTON, March 10. F ranee and Britain. Jas well as the United J States. provided covert laid to the Angola fac- ’ Lions that were defeated Jin the Angolan civil war, according to Ford r : Administrat ion officials. The officials reported that - I the French aid was substan--itial but less than the -j$US3Om supplied by the | United States. They desijcribed Britain’s aid as modi lest. . Another official said that 11 these actions were part of Jan effort by a number of 11 Western European allies, inl eluding West Germany and ’ Belgium, to stem the erosion Jof Western influence in J Africa by the Soviet Union. : AU the officials said that J there was no joint planning Jor direction among the : Europeans or with the i United States. However, one i official said. “Intelligence

I operatis es in the field knew j in a general way what each other w as doing: and of I '■course, we and the British kept each other informed.” Asked for comment both the British and french Embassies denied that their I Governments had aided the Angolan factions. : The Administration officials said that they did not know exactly when the (French and British lid ended but that it was either before or about the same time that United Stales aid began to dwindle in December. Beginning in January, the 1 French and British Governments made frequent public j condemnations of intervention by outsiders in Anglola. ' tn mid-february. they came to the conclusion that t rhe civil war was almost! ;over and recognised the So-! iviet-backed faction, the Popjular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (M.P.L.A.i.I which had established a gov-1 eminent in Luanda. The ! United States has not recognised the Luanda Govern-! |tnent. The Administration officials said that French aid was mostly in cash and was used to pay the salaries of mercenaries and regular forces, and to buy small arms and ammunition. They said that to the best

lof their knowledge the 1 French started their effort i late last summer and that it was directed almost entirely Ito the National front for the liberation of Angola iF.N.L.A.) led by Mr Holden Roberto Like covert aid provided by the Ford Administration, llfrench aid was mostly fun I nelled through President Mo- ’ butu of Zaire. I The officials said that -! British aid went exclusively t to the National Union for i the lota! Independence of Angola (Unitat based in ■ Southern Angola and led by Mt Jonas sax imbi. They said • they' believed that it began last spring and included some communications equipment. “The British did the absolute minimum just to keep I their hands in ” one official ' said Secret rid by the United 'States tn Angola, broken off about 1969. resumed in I January. 1975. with i SUS3OO.OOO tn cash, then leaped to SUS2Bm in the • late spring after heavy Soviet aid began pouring into i Angola Early this year. < ongress prohibited the Adminis t ration from sending SUS3Om more after direct intervention in Angola b\ 'Cuban and South African : forces