Office of the Historian

214. Memorandum From Acting Director of Central Intelligence McMahon to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)1

Washington, February 11, 1984

SUBJECT

  • NSSD on US Third World Hunger Relief [portion marking not declassified]

1. The subject of the NSSD is of obvious importance, and the terms of reference appear to be well thought out. I have asked Jim Lynch, Director of the Office of Global Issues, to represent the Agency on the NSSD.2 [portion marking not declassified]

2. We believe that specific attention should be given to the probable political impact both of hunger and of possible US efforts to alleviate hunger in those Third World countries of greatest importance to the United States. In particular, the possibility that ill-conceived US efforts in this area could upset the political or social balance in certain Third World countries or undermine ongoing programs of friendly governments should be examined. [portion marking not declassified]

3. The possible effect of expanded food assistance programs on trade patterns and future agricultural production in the Third World should also be addressed. [portion marking not declassified]

John N. McMahon
  1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC NSSD File, NSSD 1–84 [US Third World Hunger Relief] (1 of 3). Secret.↩
  2. Thomas B. Cormack represented the Central Intelligence Agency on the steering group.↩