Big Step Toward Peace

The effort to speed Namibia to independence and to end the civil war in Angola has moved a major step ahead with the formal acceptance by the governments of South Africa, Angola and Cuba of the principles of agreement. This action by the three governments ensures a fourth round of talks, to begin Aug. 2 in Geneva.

There are extremely difficult details still to work out before a successful outcome is certain. But the acceptance of the principles at this moment signals significant shifts in policies in Pretoria, Luanda and Havana, raising hopes that there is a serious intention of moving ahead.

South Africa has, for 10 years, found one way or another to block progress on the United Nations plan for bringing Namibia to independence. Now, however, the South African government has accepted fully the U.N. plan to end Pretoria’s control over Namibia. Implementation of that is critically important to the future of all of Southern Africa. Namibia would be the last of the neighbor nations to end white colonial rule.

Angola and Cuba have, at the same time, agreed to the staged removal of 45,000 Cuban troops now in Angola and, in the meantime, their withdrawal from the border with Namibia. Implicit in that withdrawal is an end to the South African military operations in Angola. The Cubans have played an essential role in defending Angola against attack by the South Africans. They have also helped the Angolan government defend itself against the guerrilla forces of UNITA that have been armed and supported by both South Africa and the United States.

The new agreements do not mention that guerrilla war directly, but a termination of aid to the guerrillas would appear to be required under three of the principles that bar interference in internal affairs of other states, prohibit the threat or use of force, and bar the use of territory for mounting acts of aggression. With the implementation of the agreements, the Angolan government almost certainly would move to negotiate an end to the stalemated internal warfare.

Chester A. Crocker, the assistant secretary of state for Africa, has led the mediation efforts. The special role of the United States is recognized among the agreed principles. That is appropriate.