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1075681
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Africa Policy
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1075681
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Africa Policy
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Vernon C. Loen and Charles Leppert Files
Vernon Loen's and Charles Leppert's General Subject Files
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1976-05-31
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "Africa Policy" of the Loen and
Leppert Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 1 of the Loen and Leppert Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FICE
PRESIDENT FORD'S AFRICA POLICY
FACT SHEET
In the wake of confusion created by Congress' decision to prohibit
American assistance to Angolan majority groups resisting Soviet-Cuban
intervention and the resulting likelihood of violence in Southern Africa,
President Ford sent Secretary Kissinger to Africa to demonstrate the
Ford Administration's commitment to racial justice, economic develop-
ment, and freedom from outside interference in that important continent.
The President felt that America had to move fast to counter Soviet/Cuban
momentum following successes in Angola, increasing radicalism in
Mozambique, increasing communist assistance to Rhodesian liberation
groups and a corresponding weakening of moderate forces in the region.
After years of criticism charging Republican neglect of Africa, the
Secretary's trip was intended to lay the foundation for a new era in
American policy and explore new means for effective U.S. cooperation
and support for moderate leaders in Africa's nation building effort.
President Ford deserves credit for:
-- The most extensive and significant trip to Africa of any
American Secretary of State.
A series of proposals which strengthen the hand of African
moderates and provide a basis for a negotiated settlement for majority
rule, with protection of minority rights in Southern Africa.
-- Slowing the slide toward radicalism and violence in Southern
Africa, a slide assisted by Congressional irresponsibility on Angola, thus
providing time for one more chance at a peaceful solution in Rhodesia.
-- Initiatives for U.S. -African economic cooperation which,
when coupled with our new political stance, have given the U.S. unpre-
cedented prestige in Africa.
-- Increased expressions of genuine interest and readiness to
contribute to African progress which have eclipsed the momentary
advantage the Soviet Union gained in Angola, and have hampered Soviet
ability for meddling in Southern Africa. Africans are again looking to the
West and have made clear their desire to have no foreign military inter-
vention in Africa. We have accordingly improved our worldwide position
vis-a-vis the Soviets.
-2-
-- Deciding to act, even in the face of election year criticism, to
meet the foreign policy imperatives of avoiding a potential bloodbath and
countering Soviet influence in an important, resource-rich continent.
President Ford summarized his policy regarding self-determination
in Southern Africa in Tyler, Texas on April 28:
Let me summarize the objectives of our program in Africa.
Number one, we strongly believe today, as we have over the
200 year period of our history, in self-determination by people
of a country. That is how we got our freedom -- self-determination.
Number two, our policy would guarantee minority rights for
any individuals in any of those countries in Africa.
Number three, our policy is one of keeping major powers out
of Africa and major powers dominating any one country in Africa.
We don't want to dominate the economy, the political system
in any one of those countries, and we don't want any other nation
to do it, including the Soviet Union
We are not going to supply any arms to any insurgents. We
don't think that is the way for the United States to project itself
as a country that wants to help solve some of those controversial
problems there. Under no circumstances are we going to provide
arms to any of the insurgents. We simply believe in self-
determination, guarantee of minority rights and the nondomina-
tion of any country by an outside force.