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

86. Memorandum From Secretary of State Haig to President Reagan¹

Washington, April 2, 1982

[Omitted here is information not related to Global Negotiations.]

2. UN Global Negotiations. On Wednesday,² the developing countries (Group of 77) presented a new draft resolution on global negotiations (GNs). The draft is a step backwards from the work of UNGA President Kittani which we had found helpful and to which we presented amendments in December. The draft ignores the understandings which you presented at Cancun and the U.S. amendments which the NSC approved in December. The text appears to be an initiative of Mexico and India. They may have been trying to be helpful but Algeria and some other developing countries are counting on us to reject the text and take the blame for ending GNs. The Canadians and Australians can accept the text. The UK and Belgium have reservations. The Germans and Japanese are ambivalent but do not wish to isolate us. The French are pushing the other Europeans very hard to accept the text. We intend to contact the Versailles summit countries to ensure that this does not become a major issue for the summit.³ Our objective is to reestablish the Cancun understandings and to expose the cynicism of some G–77 members.⁴

[Omitted here is information not related to Global Negotiations.]

1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S–I Records: Haig’s Correspondence and Meetings with Weinberger, Casey, and the President, Lot 83D288: Evening Reading—April 1982. Secret.
2. March 31.
3. Telegram 92598 to multiple diplomatic posts, April 7, transmitted the text of a letter from Hormats to the personal representatives of the Versailles Summit countries on the subject of Global Negotiations and the tabling of a new draft resolution on GNs by the G–77. Hormats urged that the Versailles Summit process keep its focus on “new substantive issues, while contributing whatever we can to avoid polarization in New York that would freeze texts and positions.” Hormats communicated that the United States did not plan to respond hastily to the new text on GNs from the G–77. (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Trip File, Versailles Summit 1982—N/S; NLR–755–13–8–4–7)
4. In an April 5 memorandum to multiple recipients, Meissner outlined a strategy and objectives for Global Negotiations in light of the new draft resolution tabled by the G–77 on March 31 in New York. The draft resolution did not respond to the major U.S. concerns as outlined by Reagan at Cancun, Meissner wrote, but it did put the “diplomatic ball” back in the U.S. court. Meissner communicated that it was generally agreed that the U.S. should not respond quickly. (Reagan Library, Douglas McMinn Files, Subject Files, Global Negotiations; NLR–369–3–27–12–7)