Office of the Historian

235. Briefing Memorandum From the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (McPherson) to Acting Secretary of State Dam1

Washington, December 26, 1984

SUBJECT

  • Agenda and Talking Points for Meeting on PL–480 Supplemental for Africa, Wednesday, December 26 at 2:00 p.m.2

Your staff will furnish a list of attendees.

The purpose of this meeting is to agree upon a $600 million supplemental, agree to announcement of the supplemental as soon as possible, and possibly agree to have the President ask Congress3 to pass the supplemental on January 3.4

[Page 631]

ACTING SECRETARY’S OPENING REMARKS:

What has been done

1. A massive and speedy response.

2. In FY 84, the U.S. contributed $172 million for the drought in Africa. This was the largest amount the U.S. has ever committed in a single year to the drought in Africa and about 50 percent of the donor food delivered last year.

3. In the first three months of FY 86 [85] we have committed about $250 million in food and assistance.

4. We continue to keep ahead of the media on this issue, e.g., the airlift to Sudan last weekend.5

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR DROUGHT

1. Africa drought has been and continues to be the line responsibility of Peter McPherson as the President’s Coordinator for Disaster Assistance.

2. Peter has designated Lt. General Julius Becton has his Deputy and head of the Inter-Agency Task Force on African Relief.

3. Peter and the Task Force work closely with State, and the group also includes NSC, DOD, OMB, and numerous other agencies.

4. Additional senior people from State and the White House have become involved in helping in this effort. Specifically, Ed Derwinski has agreed to lend a hand as a troubleshooter, particularly in connection with the Supplemental.

Need for Supplemental:

Its my view that the situation in Africa is getting worse and the need for a $600 Million supplemental is urgent, both substantively and to lead public opinion. I have distributed a paper explaining the supplemental.6

Ed Derwinski—call on Ed to give us Capitol Hill/political context on this discussion.

Princeton Lyman—call upon Princeton Lyman to provide an African foreign policy context for the discussion.

Peter McPherson—call upon Peter McPherson to review the situation in Africa and the details of the supplemental.

Dr. Keel—ask for comments from OMB.

M. Peter McPherson7
  1. Source: Department of State, Subject Files, Edward J. Derwinski, 1982–1985, Lot 87D258, Famine Relief in Africa. No classification marking.↩
  2. No record of this meeting has been found.↩
  3. H.R. 41 and H.R. 100 both dealt with African famine relief and were introduced on January 3, 1985, but neither left committee. Introduced on February 21 and enacted as P.L. 99–10 on April 4, H.R. 1239 provided the emergency funds for African famine relief—$400 million until December 31, 1985; $137.5 million until March 31, 1986; and $225 million until September 30, 1986.↩
  4. See footnote 2, Document 227.↩
  5. In telegram 376959 to Khartoum, Geneva, Rome, and USUN New York, December 24, the Department transmitted press reports regarding the airlift of relief supplies to Sudan. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D840820–0614)↩
  6. See footnote 2, Document 234.↩
  7. McPherson initialed above his typed signature.↩