CENPA-339~12 |
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of the fight v/aged by PRELIMO« contradictions within imperialism In spite of the apparently brilliant nature of the Cahora Bassa scheme as one to unite Portuguese Fascism, Western Capitalism and South African Apartheid, there are certain serious problems which Portugal's ruling clique have to face. To begin v/ith, Portugal is caught in the middle of capitalist interests from different imperialist countries which are competing among themselves. The contract to build the first stage of the Cahora Bassa dam v/as signed on 10 July, 1963 with ZAMCO (Zambeze Con- sorcio Hydro-Electric), which is a consortium of German, Swedish, French and South African firms - tender the control of the notorious South African company, Anglo-American, By awarding the contract to ZAMCO, Portugal satisfied German-and South African capitalists in particular, but the British and the powerful US capitalists were left out of the picture* This raises contradictions for Portugal's foreign policy, since Caetano clearly hopes for more-US and NATO aid to conduct his wars against FRELIMO, MPLA. and PAIGC, :. Another contradiction met; within.Portugal's colonial and foreign policy is that while it needs South Africa's support to maintain Mozambique and Angola, it is also afraid of:a: South African takeover of these regions, v/ith the support of the whites already resident there.. Further, white immigration into Mozambique, (such as the million farmers whom they v/ould like to settle on the Zambezi), will net necessarily improve Portugal's position since the plan:is to attract those settlers from European countries, and they may prefer South Africa rather than Portugal as their master* Besides, the close association with South Africa embarrasses Caetano's attempts to portray himself as a 'Liberal'* The ties v/ith South x^frica are being strengthened every day and_ in Angola there is another hydro-electric scheme (the Cunene dam) v/hich involves South Africa, But the evidence is that some elements within..Portugal's ruling circle do not like these developments * In ..April .this year, while visiting Mozambique (the areas still safe for Portugal) Marcelo Caetano announced that the agreement with ZAMCO was broken off* But that decision has been reversed in favour of ZAMCO once more0 The changes and the uncertainty v/ere probably due to fear of South African influence in Mozambique along with Portuguese hopes that United'States investors would build the dam and bring the support of their jpvernmentc It was widely rumoured that since the Spanish government v/as raising problems over the American bases in Spain, the Portuguese government was willing to allow the Yankees to transfer their bases from Spain to Portugal* This major step, along v/ith the 10
Object Description
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Title | CENPA-339~12 |
Filename | CENPA-339~12.tiff |
Full text | of the fight v/aged by PRELIMO« contradictions within imperialism In spite of the apparently brilliant nature of the Cahora Bassa scheme as one to unite Portuguese Fascism, Western Capitalism and South African Apartheid, there are certain serious problems which Portugal's ruling clique have to face. To begin v/ith, Portugal is caught in the middle of capitalist interests from different imperialist countries which are competing among themselves. The contract to build the first stage of the Cahora Bassa dam v/as signed on 10 July, 1963 with ZAMCO (Zambeze Con- sorcio Hydro-Electric), which is a consortium of German, Swedish, French and South African firms - tender the control of the notorious South African company, Anglo-American, By awarding the contract to ZAMCO, Portugal satisfied German-and South African capitalists in particular, but the British and the powerful US capitalists were left out of the picture* This raises contradictions for Portugal's foreign policy, since Caetano clearly hopes for more-US and NATO aid to conduct his wars against FRELIMO, MPLA. and PAIGC, :. Another contradiction met; within.Portugal's colonial and foreign policy is that while it needs South Africa's support to maintain Mozambique and Angola, it is also afraid of:a: South African takeover of these regions, v/ith the support of the whites already resident there.. Further, white immigration into Mozambique, (such as the million farmers whom they v/ould like to settle on the Zambezi), will net necessarily improve Portugal's position since the plan:is to attract those settlers from European countries, and they may prefer South Africa rather than Portugal as their master* Besides, the close association with South Africa embarrasses Caetano's attempts to portray himself as a 'Liberal'* The ties v/ith South x^frica are being strengthened every day and_ in Angola there is another hydro-electric scheme (the Cunene dam) v/hich involves South Africa, But the evidence is that some elements within..Portugal's ruling circle do not like these developments * In ..April .this year, while visiting Mozambique (the areas still safe for Portugal) Marcelo Caetano announced that the agreement with ZAMCO was broken off* But that decision has been reversed in favour of ZAMCO once more0 The changes and the uncertainty v/ere probably due to fear of South African influence in Mozambique along with Portuguese hopes that United'States investors would build the dam and bring the support of their jpvernmentc It was widely rumoured that since the Spanish government v/as raising problems over the American bases in Spain, the Portuguese government was willing to allow the Yankees to transfer their bases from Spain to Portugal* This major step, along v/ith the 10 |
Archival file | Volume20/CENPA-339~12.tiff |