160. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter1

SUBJECT

  • Daily Report

Information

[Omitted here is material unrelated to India.]

NSC Activity

Economic Assistance for India

I was unable to make this point on Wednesday2 but in light of India’s foreign exchange surplus and less than helpful positions on non-proliferation, the hostages3 and other issues, the nearly $640 million in U.S. assistance planned for FY 81 seems excessive. As currently programmed, India will receive roughly $400 million channeled through the International Development Association of the World Bank, $100 million in Title II P.L. 480 assistance and nearly $140 million in bilateral AID projects—the largest AID program after Israel and Egypt. Since you are under pressure from Cy and others to meet high priority U.S. objectives in Latin America and Thailand, you might want to consider a marginal reallocation of proposed Indian assistance. (S)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Daily CIA Brief File, Box 24, 12/20/79–12/25/79. Secret; Sensitive. Printed from an uninitialed copy. Carter initialed at the top of the memorandum.
  2. December 19.
  3. See Document 158.