The Movement for Freedom in Mozambique - Page 28.
the United States in favour of an anti-self-determination attitude.
In this connexion, in a recent statement to newsmen by a high
government official in Lisbon, it v/as stated that Portugal expected "greater sympathy and understanding from the United States"
in regard to the issue of Portuguese possessions in Africa.  The
government official is reported to have said that the United States
was expected to "exert a certain amount of pressure on some independent African states to end the three year old guerrilla war in
Angola." Whether or not these hopes of Portugal1s will materialise v/ill depend on the meaning which the United States will attach
to the determination of the African states to help liberate the
rest of Africa.  We believe that the position of *JTrican independent states should influence American foreign policy on this matter,
and we hope that the United States will not dare defy all of
Africa in order to please Portugal.  Hov/ever, if the hopes of
Portugal do materialize, it would not surprise us v^ry much, since
the United States seems to be progressively leaning toward a reactionary line of action in foreign affairs.
It is against this background that the Mozambique Liberation
Front arose.  FRELIMO is the crystalization of the suffering of
millions of our people, desiring to free themselves of Portuguese
oppression.  It is the continuation of a struggle which began
with the imposition of Portuguese colonialism and imperialism in
the middle of the 19th century.  The Mozambique Liberation Front
is the practical expression of the feelings of a generation which
can no longer accept Portuguese colonialism, it does not matter
with v/hat rationalization it may clothe itself.  It is a reaction
of our generation against Portuguese enslavement of our people;
it is a revolt against Portuguese hypocrisy.  The Mozambique Liberation Front is an expression of the desire of the African peoples
to be free from European imperialism, the same kind of reaction
which has taken place in other parts of Africa.  It is a continuation of the spirit of independence which drove the people of
Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Tanganyika, Kenya, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia,
Guinea, etc. to take action against European political and
economic interests.  It does not matter how many soldiers the
Western NaTO pov/ers pour into ovv  country;  it does not matter
how many tons of v/eapcns they supply to Portugal;  it does not
matter how many millions of dollars the United States gives to the
Portuguese military and commercial interests, the Mozambican people
are determined to rid themselves of colonialism and economic
imperialism once and for all and they will win.