News and Notes #14
Both countries see very clearly the absolute necessity of a close-
knit alliance.  The South African Minister of the Interior put it this
way:
As South Africans we are also aware of the fact that •their1 war
is a heavy drain on Portugal's budget...and we accept the fact
that these onslaughts by the liberation movements which are
initially aimed at the Portuguese territories are, in the final-
instance, aimed at the South African republic itself....
(Star,11/28/70)
Diplomatic and military visits, some public, some private, between
Portuguese and South African dignitaries, have multiplied in the
last several years beginning with Prime Minister Vorster's state visit
to Portugal in June of 1970.  Subjects covered in these discussions and
others have included economic cooperation, mutual security on land and
especially in the Indian Ocean, and concrete strategies to combat the
guerilla movements in Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Another
topic of discussion has been the SATO (Southern Atlantic Treaty Organization) idea, a possible alliance which would include Latin American
nations, particularly Brazil, and also the v/hite states of Australia
and New Zealand. In the summer of 1971 Portugal1s Foreign Minister
Patricio visited South Africa and underlined Portugal's commitment to
defend its African colonies and cooperate with South Africa. Stressing
their similar anti-communist postures he said:
The strategic positions of Portugal and South Africa are important factors for the defence of Western civilization. Sharing,
as we do, common ideals of peace and progress, we suffer the
same threats and are exposed to the same perils. We have responsibilities which we do not neglect and each of us builds his
own future v/ith confidence. (South African Digest, July 2, 1971)
MILITARY TIES
Pretoria News
The Governor General of Mozambique, Mr
Manuel Pimentel Pereira dos Santos, and
Mrs Pereira dos Santos with the Minister of
Information, Dr C. P. Mulder (centre), at
Waterkloot air station near Pretoria after the
Governor General's arrival for an official
visit to South Africa
Particular visits have oeeured on the
military level; for example, in November,1971
the South African Minister of Defense, Commander-in-Chief of Naval Staff, and Armaments Chief visited Lisbon to meet with
Defense Minister Rebelo; at the same time,
the Commander-in- Chief of the Portuguese
forces in Mozambique, de Arriaga visited
South Africa; v/hile the next month the South
African Army Chief of Staff met with the
South African Commander-in-Chief in Mozambique
and in April the Governor General of Mozambique
dos Santos met with the Minister of Defense
of South Africa.  This flurry of visits and
exchanges is more than an example of good
will and understanding between the two
regimes. Rather, it is evidence of concrete
military planning v/hich has occured between
the regimes for the sale or grant of South
African equipment to the Portuguese, the
use of South African troops in Mozambique
and Angola, and v/ider security arrangements
(joint maneuvers, nuclear planning, and port
facilities.)