GRS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM LUSAKA 081245Z NOV 78
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 839 OF 8 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE MODUK (COSSEC) (DS11)
FOR BARDER, CSAD,
NIR YOUR TEL 546; PARAMILITARY TRAINING
Akkor!!!
No
i ne
With
SeeMo
NO.
PA
PEC Action Taisen
45
1. I HAVE NOT SUGGESTED, AND NOR HAVE THE ZAMBIANS, THAT PARAMILITARY TRAINING IS WITHIN THE PACKAGE OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE NOW UNDER DISCUSSION. HOWEVER, GENERAL FURSDON IS A COMMON FACTOR TO BOTH AND THAT IS WHY WE EXPECT PHIRI TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FURSDON'S CURRENT VISIT TO RAISE THE SEPARATE
SUBJECT OF PARAMILITARY TRAINING.
THAT
2.
I AM SOMEWHAT DISMAYED BY THE IMPLICATION IN YOUR PARA 2 THAT WE MAY NOT, AFTER ALL, BE ABLE TO MEET THIS REQUEST. AS YOU KNOW FROM MY TEL 580, I THOUGHT EVEN IN SEPTEMBER IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FROM A POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW FOR US NOT TO TURN THIS REQUEST DOWN OUT OF HAND. RECENT REPORTING FROM THIS POST (EG. MY TELS 742 AND 753, AND EVERETT'S LETTER TO VARCOE OF 31 OCTOBER, PARA 6) INDICATES THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME MOVE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT HAS NEVER BEEN LESS ACADEMIC. MY TEL 831 DESCRIBES THE LATEST SYMPTOMS OF DISCONTENT ABOUT ZAMBIA'S MILITARY STANCE AND THIS WILL HAVE ITS REACTION WITHIN THE ZNDF. WHILST I AM SURE ALL THIS HAS BEEN WELL UNDERSTOOD IN LONDON, I ALSO ASSESS THAT KAUNDA HIMSELF WILL HAVE DRAWN HIS OWN CONCLUSIONS. PHIRI HAS RECENTLY REFERRED TO THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ARMS DELIVERY TO STATE HOUSE AND THE NEED TO FORM HIS CRACK'' UNIT.
3. THUS, WHEN (AS I DEEM INEVITABLE) PHIRI ASKS FURSDON FOR A PROGRESS REPORT, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LATTER TO PLAY FOR TIME DURING HIS PRESENT VISIT. BUT THE CRUNCH WILL CERTAINLY COME WHEN FURSDON NEXT RETURNS. WE SHALL THEN BE OBLIGED TO OFFER SOME DEFINITE ADVICE. WE MAY SEEK IN PRIVATE DIALOGUE TO FURTHER REDUCE THE SCOPE OF THE ZAMBIAN TRAINING REQUEST. BUT THEN, EVEN IF THAT BORE FRUIT, WE SHOULD HAVE TO ADVISE WHETHER THE AMENDED REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE MET:
CONFIDENTIAL
/A.34
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