Riddles of Mozambique

Mozambique remains perhaps the ultimate example of the wrongheadedness of Western diplomatic bureaucracies—although even in this context, was it really necessary for Britain’s foreign secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, to abase himself by giving the clenched-fist salute on his visit there the other day?

A little history is in order. The Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) was set up in 1962 and went into revolt against Portuguese rule two years later. The original Frelimo leader, Eduardo Mondlane, was murdered in Dar-es-Salaam in 1969, and Moscow’s man, Samora Machel, took over the following year.

Mozambique remains perhaps the ultimate example of the wrongheadedness of Western diplomatic bureaucracies—although even in this context, was it really necessary for Britain’s foreign secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, to abase himself by giving the clenched-fist salute on his visit there the other day?

A little history is in order. The Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) was set up in 1962 and went into revolt against Portuguese rule two years later. The original Frelimo leader, Eduardo Mondlane, was murdered in Dar-es-Salaam in 1969, and Moscow’s man, Samora Machel, took over the following year.