Angola and Mozambique REDESIGNATION BY PORTUGAL

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32819, 20 January 1972, Page 11

Angola and Mozambique REDESIGNATION BY PORTUGAL

ffl/.W .-Reuter—Copyright) /LISBON, Jan. 19. . Portugal has announced proposals to designate its African provinces of Angola and Mozambique as States, and to allow them greater autonomy “without affecting the unity of the nation.”

The proposed Organic Law of the Overseas Territories, is allowed under the changes in the Portuguese Constitution announced last June and submitted by the Government to the National Assembly last Saturday.

Key provisions of the new law include the upgrading of Angola and Mozambique as States—the designation formerly held only by the Portuguese State of India-Goa, Damao and Diu. (The three territories in India are still regarded as part of Portugal, and have representation in the National Assembly, although they were occupied by Indian forces in December, 1961.) Under the new legislation, each of the overseas provinces will have a Legislative Assembly and an Advisory Council which will have greater autonomy in running

the province’s economic and internal affairs. Govemors-General will have the rank of Ministers of State in any part of the national territory, as well as in their own provinces, and can be called to Cabinet meetings. They will hold office for four years with possible extensions for further periods of two years. The new Legislative Assemblies will meet twice a year for periods not exceeding four months a year. The proposed changes in the government of the provinces come at the same time as new economic and financial measures aimed at streamlining the trade pattern of the overseas territories, and speeding up the monetary exchanges between them and metropolitan Portugal.