Office of the Historian

64. National Security Study Memorandum 1421

Washington, November 19, 1971.

TO

  • The Secretary of State
  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

  • Rhodesia

The President has directed that a review be made of the implications for U.S. policy of a British-Rhodesian settlement acknowledging Rhodesia’s independence and calling for the termination of sanctions. The study should also deal with the implication of failure of the present negotiations to produce a political settlement. The study should, inter alia:

1.
Assess the probable reaction in the United Nations and elsewhere to a British-Rhodesian agreement and the issues which this development is likely to pose for U.S. policy.
2.
Assess the probable reaction in the UN and elsewhere to failure of U.K.–Rhodesia negotiations and the issues which such a development is likely to pose for U.S. policy including the sanctions program.
3.
Examine the legal, political, and economic implications involved in (a) U.S. recognition of an independent Rhodesia, and (b) the establishing of diplomatic or consular relations therewith.
4.
Identify the probable consequences of each possible U.S. action for our immediate and longer term interests in the United Nations and for our bilateral relations with the countries primarily concerned.

The study should be prepared by the NSC Interdepartmental Group for Africa and should be submitted to the NSC Senior Review Group by December 13, 1971.2

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–188, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 142. Confidential.↩
  2. In a July 18, 1972, memorandum to Kennedy, Fred Rondon wrote: “NSSM 142 on Rhodesia was predicated upon a successful British settlement with Ian Smith. It did not come about. With no early prospects for British recognition of Rhodesia, I see no need for us to further consider the policy options in the NSSM 142 study.” (Ibid., Box H–181, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 115) The study is ibid., Box H–188, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 115.↩