The Crystalization of a Struggle for Freedom - Page 12
During the months of October, November and December I, as President
of FRELIMO, undertook a long trip to America, Europe and the People's
Republic of China, to present Mozambique's case against Portugal.  At
the United Nations, I petitioned against Portugal and made representations in West Germany against reported economic activities in Portuguese
African colonies by some cf the big German financial interests.  I also
stimulated interest in our situation among the West German press, radio
and television, calling the German people's attention to those relations
between their government and the Salazarist colonial regime v/hich we
consider dtrimental to our struggle.  In West Germany I find a great
deal of interest from among the rank and file people.  The press, radio
and television gave me an ample opportunity to state our case.  Educational organizations showed interest in giving us places in their
colleges and universities, which we hope to take up soon.
While at the United Nations, I assisted the nine representatives
of the Organization of African Unity who were carrying our conversations
on the future of Mozambique, Angola and Guinea v/ith Portuguese representatives at the office of the Secretary General, Mr. U Thant.  My function
during these conversations was to expose the veiled attempts by Portugal
to hoodwink the African representatives and the people of the world
concerning the status of cur country.  The Portuguese representatives
were claiming that the "organic law for overseas provinces", which the
Portuguese parliament rubber-stamped last August, was aimed at applying
the principles of self-determination to the colonies of Portugal in
Africa.  I called the attention of the delegates to the fact that contrary to what Portugal was saying, this new law was in fact completing
the incorporation of our country into Portugal as a province, instead
of giving more and more self-government.  After reading the law itself,
the African statesmen saw the point, and suspended the conversations,
insisting that Portugal declare first unequivocally that she is ready
to apply the right of self-determination to the people of her colonies
in Africa;  secondly, that she take immediate steps to discuss with the
representatives of Mozambique, Angela and Guinea how she will hand over
the economic, politucal and other instruments for an independent government.  In my petition in the Fourth Committee of the United Nations
General Assembly, I urged that the member states act on the resolution
passed last July by the Security Council.  I gave further evidence concerning the support which Portugal receives from several members of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including the United States, Great
Britain, France and West Germany, almost in that order.  I cited the
fact that Portugal continues to receive weapons from these powers, even
though it has been proved beyond doubt that these weapons are now being
used by Portugal against us in Africa.  I also called attention to the
various arrangements being made by these same NATO powers to prop the