Office of the Historian

189. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (Derian) to Secretary of State Vance1

Washington, July 16, 1979

Lunch with Henry

I noted that you will be lunching with the former Secretary. I believe you are aware that he has a disturbing tendency, particularly when in foreign lands, to make deprecating comments about our human rights policy. In Argentina, in Brazil, in Europe, and in Korea, his comments have been publicized. More important, they reinforce the belief on the part of foreign leaders that the U.S. human rights policy will depart the scene with this Administration. That message is counter-productive in terms of helping real, live human beings today. It also reflects a lack of awareness of the increased number of statutory constraints which would make it illegal for a subsequent Secretary of State to disregard human rights considerations in the implementation of foreign assistance programs.

Recommendation:

Please bring this subject to his attention.

  1. Source: Department of State, Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, 1979 Human Rights Subject Files, Lot 82D102, unlabeled folder. No classification marking.↩