Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MAPUTO1427
2004-10-28 14:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:  

SCHNEIDMAN CLAIM THAT FRELIMO FOUNDER WAS CIA

Tags:  KPAO OIIP MZ OPRC FRELIMO 
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UNCLAS MAPUTO 001427 

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IIP/G/AF; AF/PD (RSEVER); AF/S (HTREGER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OIIP MZ OPRC FRELIMO
SUBJECT: SCHNEIDMAN CLAIM THAT FRELIMO FOUNDER WAS CIA
MAKES MAPUTO HEADLINES

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001427

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IIP/G/AF; AF/PD (RSEVER); AF/S (HTREGER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OIIP MZ OPRC FRELIMO
SUBJECT: SCHNEIDMAN CLAIM THAT FRELIMO FOUNDER WAS CIA
MAKES MAPUTO HEADLINES


1. Independent publications in Mozambique have
featured former AF DAS Witney Schneidman's claims that
FRELIMO founder Eduardo Mondlane received funds from
the CIA. The October 28 edition of the Beira weekly
Zambeze led with the back-page headline, "FRELIMO
founder financed by CIA" On October 27, the
independent Maputo fax daily Correio da Manha opened
with the headline, "Mondlane financed by the CIA." The
October 28 Maputo fax daily Expresso da Tarde
headlined, "CIA financed Eduardo Mondlane." The
subsequent LUSA-based stories cited in detail
Schneidman's new book, "Washington and the Fall of
Portugal's Colonial Empire," focusing on comments about
FRELIMO founder Eduardo Mondlane's ties to the United
States.


2. The articles underscored Schneidman's remarks that
in 1963 Mondlane had supposedly received a CIA
"subsidy" of USD 60,000 funneled through the African
American Institute. They also cite a letter to
Attorney General Robert Kennedy that,"it would be
idiocy to try to control him (Mondlane),because the
very attempt to do so would damage his usefulness..To
support Mondlane would be a good investment for us,
because his program represents the best and only hope
for a relatively peaceful solution to the Mozambican
problem"(Post translation).


3. COMMENT: Mondlane studied at Oberlin, received a
doctorate from Northwestern, taught at Syracuse, and
married an American, who lives in Mozambique and
remains highly visible by virtue of her work with
dealing with HIV/AIDS and the Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane
Foundation. Accordingly, revelations about his ties to
the U.S. come as no surprise to educated Mozambicans.
The articles, moreover, speak to Mondlane's strength of
character, thus conforming to his place in the
nationalist pantheon. Nevertheless, tarring the
founding father of FRELIMO with the CIA brush sells
newspapers and may stimulate some discussion,
especially coming as it does in the midst of a
presidential election campaign.
LA LIME