Office of the Historian

469. Memorandum From Thomas Thornton of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, October 16, 1980

SUBJECT

  • Dampening Pakistani Expectations (C)

The President’s cryptic comment on keeping Pak expectations down for FY 82 assistance2 means real trouble. It is being interpreted in State as a definitive removal of Pakistan from the FY 82 aid lists.3 Whether or not this is what the President intended, that is just what is going to happen if his injunction stands for even several weeks. If the President’s concern is to keep the matter on ice until after the elections (because of nuclear sensitivities) we could in theory still affect the process during November. But that is very short time. Bureaucratically, the President has put things in reverse gear. It will be very hard to reverse the momentum even if we want to. Letting the “moratorium” drag on into December will make it virtually impossible to get a substantial package in FY 82 for Pakistan short of a supplemental appropriation. (S)

If the President is not going to loosen up after the elections, then I need to know that now so that I can get my hands on the money tentatively earmarked for Pakistan and put it to good use.

RECOMMENDATION:

That you check with the President (if necessary) to see how he intends to proceed and let Henry Owen and me know so that we can do an optimum job of managing the situation in accordance with the President’s actual desires.4 (C)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 58, Chron: 10/10–19/80. Secret. Sent for action. Sent through Owen, who did not initial the memorandum. The memorandum was marked “Outside the System,” but an unknown hand crossed out the marking and wrote: “reg.#” beneath it.↩
  2. See footnote 5, Document 468.↩
  3. In an October 14 memorandum, Brzezinski informed Muskie of Carter’s comment to “Keep expectations low” regarding possible economic assistance to Pakistan. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 59, Pakistan: 8/80–1/81)↩
  4. At the bottom of the page, Carter wrote: “Zbig—This is silly—no ‛moratorium’ exists. 1982 budget for all purposes will be tight. We’ll set worldwide priorities & I’ll decide what to include. J.”↩