1  !
I
IK *--
ALUANCC l^*j }
CAETANO GET OUT!
IWbwional
OPPOSITION IN BRITAIN TO THE ANGLO-PORTUGUESE CELEBRATIONS
Over the past few months the British and
Portuguese governments have been staging
celebrations to mark the 600th anniversary of their ((oldest alliance)), based on a
treaty signed on June 16th, 1373. But
these celebrations have been countered
by a nation-wide ((End the Alliance))
campaign mounted by the Committee for
Freedom in Mozambique, Angola and
Guine, which in conjunction with a
broad spectrum of political and student
groups, took the initiative in making the
anniversary an occasion for raising understanding of the situation in Africa and
mobilising protest against the official
backing given by British and other western governments for Portuguese oppression.
One of the focal points of the campaign was the three-day visit to Portugal
by the Duke of Edinburgh from 5 to 8 of
June. Many of his public engagements in
Britain prior to the visit were picketed
by demonstrators. When the Duke spoke
to the demonstrators he said that it was
a Foreign Office decision that he should
go to Portugal. Letters of protest to the
Foreign Office received the reply that the
visit was ((ceremonial in character, intended to recognise the achievement of
two countries in maintaining friendly
relations over a remarkably long stretch
of time. It should not be seen as an
endorsement of Portugal's policies in
Africa, since those policies have been a
matter of open and acknowledged disagreement between the British and Portuguese
governments for some time.)) The Portuguese government on the other hand,
obviously saw the visit as a sign of
Britains' blanket endorsement of Portuguese policy.
The Duke's contacts in Portugal were
kept to the lowest official circles apart
from a highly significant visit to the new
Plessey factory. Allegedly the most
modern of its kind in western Europe,
the factory makes communications and
computer equipment for export, including
an  exclusive  concession  to supply the
colonies and the armed forces. At a
time when Plessey is closing down its
installations in Britain, this new factory
is a vivid example both of the covert
military collaboration between Portugal
and its allies and also of the way in
which Portugal is being used an as instrument of the richer western powers.
Other aspects of the celebrations had a
markedly militarist character — the visit
of two Navy frigates to Lisbon, air displays by the Royal Air Force, «Red
Arrows)) team, and participation by the
Portuguese National Guard in the Royal
Tournament.
Sensitive to Britain's relations with independent African countries, the British
Government played down the Duke's
visit. Moreover, the advance text of one
of his speeches pointed to differences
between Portuguese and British colonial
policies. However, this was withdrawn
after Portuguese protest.