Office of the Historian

216. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan1

Washington, February 27, 1984

SUBJECT

  • National Security Study Directive on Third World Hunger Relief

Issue

Should you sign the attached NSSD on Third World hunger relief?2

Facts

Ambassador Robert Keating, our Ambassador to Madagascar and a political appointee, has been chosen to lead the study effort outlined in the attached NSSD. The NSSD’s first priority will be to define three things: (1) our current food aid financing programs, (2) the current food supply and demand situation in Third World countries, and (3) the food distribution systems in those countries. Interagency working groups chaired by Treasury, USDA and AID will be established to complete these reviews.3 Once the present situation is clear, the study will focus on alternative and creative means to close the food “gap,” perhaps by increasing U.S. food shipments to affected countries. Emphasis will be placed on reviewing food aid mechanisms which will not affect the budget. The study would be completed by April 30, 1984.

Discussion

The attached NSSD, in draft form, has already been cleared by all concerned agencies. Only AID has some questions about the desirability of the study; other agencies are highly supportive. AID is understandably concerned about other agencies reviewing its programs, but given the severity of the Third World hunger problem such review is important. We are hopeful that this study will yield a plan of action which [Page 593] could directly impact on the hunger problem and our disaster relief measures.

RECOMMENDATION

That you sign the attached NSSD that I will send to the agencies under my cover memo.4

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC NSSD File, 1–84 [US Third World Hunger Relief] (1 of 3). Secret. Drafted by Levine. Sent for action. A stamped notation in the upper right-hand margin reads: “The President has seen.”↩
  2. Not attached. Printed as Document 218.↩
  3. In a February 21 action memorandum to McFarlane, Levine wrote: “All agencies support this study (and most made very positive comments about the terms of reference) with the exception of AID. AID objects to this study, but if it has to be, AID would like to chair it. Like any agency, AID objects to others reviewing what they view as their province.” (Reagan Library, Rosenberg Files, Food for Refugees—Keating Group (Famine) 2/21/84–02/17/84)↩
  4. Reagan checked and initialed the approve option.↩