146. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter1
SUBJECT
- S&T Exchanges with the PRC
Frank Press provides you a succinct description of our S&T exchange program with Peking.2 He has provided me with detailed descriptions of each program, which I am prepared to supply you, should you wish to see them.3
In a nutshell, here is what Frank has done:
—Through the Policy Review Committee, he has established an inter-agency coordinating body to review all programs.
—He has managed to secure total consensus among all agencies concerning the road immediately ahead.
—Hence, no inter-agency disputes require your attention. You only need approve the pace Frank has set.
—The pace is gradual and largely involves reaching a series of agreements to explore ways to cooperate. With the exception of student exchanges, where understandings are imminent, the program is unfolding carefully.
[Page 577]—The sequence in which we are addressing areas of cooperation are:
• Students (October)
• Energy—oil, coal, high energy physics, renewable energy, and hydroelectric (late October).
• Agriculture (November)
• Space (possibly November)
• Health (December)
Recommendation:
That you endorse Frank’s approach and authorize him to proceed at a measured pace in correspondence with his Chinese counterpart.4
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 8, China (People’s Republic of), 9–11/78. Confidential. Sent for action. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum.↩
- See Document 144.↩
- The supporting documentation is attached but not printed.↩
- Carter checked the Approve option and initialed “J.”↩