Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXXVIII, International Economic Development; International Debt; Foreign Assistance

64. Memorandum From Secretary of State Haig to President Reagan¹

Washington, October 14, 1981

SUBJECT

• Global Negotiations Strategy for Cancun

In the last several days we have received a considerable amount of intelligence on what to expect at Cancun. It is increasingly clear that the issue of global negotiations will be the centerpiece of the discussions. Our developed country colleagues appear to feel as strongly about this as the developing countries. A recent letter to me from German Foreign Minister Genscher stresses this point, and indicates that we would have an ample opportunity to pursue our strategy for global growth under the heading of global negotiations.²

In light of this, I have taken another look at the guidance memo summarizing the results of our discussion last Thursday on global negotiations.³ As presently written, the memo is needlessly contentious in attacking UN Resolution 34/138. If we stand on that negative ground, it will completely undercut the positive program you have developed and, despite our efforts, we will find ourselves on the defensive and isolated in Cancun.

We can easily avoid this self-inflicted wound by presenting our position on the negotiations—with which I am in complete agreement—in more positive terms. Attached is a suggested rewrite of that part of the memo which does the trick.⁴ The guidance states that we would be willing to participate in preparatory talks in the United Nations provided that the four conditions on which we insist are met. On an if-asked basis, we would note that we have proposed a set of conditions for our returning to the preparatory table and would not do so if the talks were conducted on the basis of UN Resolution 34/138. Our stress would be on our hope that others would agree to put aside the substance of that resolution and begin afresh to work out a procedural basis and agenda that would offer the prospect of meaningful progress.

This approach serves precisely the same interests we all have in avoiding preparatory discussions or negotiations under UN Resolution 34/138, but enables us to do so in a way which puts you in a leadership position. I recommend you approve this more positively phrased guidance.

1. Source: Reagan Library, Douglas McMinn Files, Economic Summit Files, Mexico—Policy; NLR–369–11–41–8–7. Confidential. Sent under an October 15 covering memorandum from Nau to Allen.
2. See footnote 3, Document 62.
3. Thursday, October 8. See Document 63.
4. The revised guidance is attached but not printed.