International records / Foreign Relations of the United States

231. Memorandum of Conversation

ns were involved directly in the fighting or only in training and support roles was unknown. What was certain was that Zaire’s troops were terrible fighters. The situation was very unstable. The US was supplying Zaire with non-lethal assistance. The Nigerians were playing a very helpful role. Admiral Turner said he had little to add. Neto might possibly back off if guerrilla actions mounted from Zaire against Angola were curtailed. The Secretary said that the US had talked to the Soviets through their Ambassador in Washington. We told Dobrynin that the Soviets would be expected to exercise res…