Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XLI, Global Issues II

217. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to Multiple Recipients¹

Washington, February 27, 1984

SUBJECT

• NSSD on U.S. Third World Hunger Relief (S)

Attached please find the NSSD terms of reference, on Third World Hunger Relief.² Agency comments have clearly supported the need for this study. Given the short timetable available for this review of hunger relief, a few agencies suggested that the study focus on emergency food assistance. The President’s request for such a study stems in part from the current emergency situation as to food in Africa and other parts of the world. It is the President’s view, though, that today’s emergency food problem is indicative of the larger concern of how U.S. and other donor country food aid programs treat the world hunger problem over time. Thus, while this study should make recommendations on how the current emergency food program might best be strengthened, these recommendations must be made in the larger light of our other long-term efforts to relieve hunger in the Third World. The attached NSSD establishes the terms of reference for this study with the understanding that these terms may be further shaped by the study chairman and steering group as work proceeds. (S)

Ambassador Robert Keating, chairman of this study, will soon advise your respective offices of the first steering group meeting at which the study’s management scheme and timetable will be further explained.³ (U)

Since certain agency comments on the NSSD draft were late in arriving, the completion date for this study will be April 30. (S)

FOR THE PRESIDENT:

Robert C. McFarlane

1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC NSSD File, 1–84 [US Third World Hunger Relief] (1 of 3). Secret. Sent to Bush, Shultz, Regan, Weinberger, Block, Baldrige, Stockman, Casey, Brock, McPherson, Wick, and Ruppe.
2. Not attached. See Document 218.
3. In a March 1 memorandum to multiple recipients, Hill wrote that the first steering group meeting for the task force would take place on March 5 and attached a document that outlined a plan of work. (Reagan Library, Rosenberg Files, Food for Refugees—Keating Group (Famine) 2/21/84–02/17/84)