‘Recklessness in Angola’

I refer to your editorial (Jan. 31), “Recklessness in Angola,” which bitterly criticizes President Reagan for welcoming Jonas Savimbi to this country. The only recklessness is that of The Times in bestowing its support upon the Marxist dictatorship in Angola and distorting the role of Savimbi since 1975.

The Times conveniently neglects to mention that the communist-led Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola was never elected but in fact seized power illegally in 1975, ignoring prior agreements with various liberation groups that elections would be held.

The so-called “people’s republic” was quickly buttressed by military aid from the Soviets and by Cuban troops without which its survival would be doubtful.

The editorial also fails to point out that Savimbi’s UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) controls one-third of Angola, operates freely in another one-third and that he has a wide following among his people.

There can be little question that without Savimbi all of Angola would be solidly Marxist today, opening another window of opportunity in troubled Africa for Soviet ambitions, which is, of course, why they embarked on this adventure in the first place.

The Times criticizes Savimbi for accepting some assistance from South Africa. Let it be noted that rather obviously Savimbi is no admirer of apartheid, has no intention of importing apartheid into Angola, his UNITA has been in a struggle for survival and needs help from any source. It is difficult to understand how refusing such assistance would have any appreciable effect on the course of apartheid in South Africa.

As for the Chevron Gulf oil operation, of which The Times approves, this has become the most important source of revenue to Luanda, a large portion of which goes to Cuban troops and which places Chevron, the Communist bloc and The Times in a sordid alliance opposed to the only pro-West Angolan challenger in the field.

WM. J. MORRISON

Sun Valley