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

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

Washington, July 12, 1984

SUBJECT

• Ambassador Stoessel’s Second Mission to Europe for Consultations on Soviet Human Rights Performance

Issue: To endorse Ambassador Stoessel’s second mission to Europe for consultations on Soviet human rights performance.

Facts: In response to increased Soviet human rights violations, Secretary Shultz decided last year to intensify our efforts to combat these illegal and inhumane Soviet actions. As part of this initiative, in July 1983, Ambassador Stoessel led a three-man team which you designated as a Presidential Mission to eight European countries to consult and inform them of the projected U.S. efforts on behalf of Soviet Jewry and other human rights issues. As a continuation of these efforts, Ambassador Stoessel has agreed to return to Europe this July to revisit Bonn and Paris for follow-up discussions and to meet with officials in Switzerland and Denmark, who were not included in the 1983 trip.

In order to maximize the impact of Ambassador Stoessel’s trip, State recommends² that the trip be designated as a Presidential Mission, as was the first Stoessel mission, and that the Ambassador be authorized to carry individual letters from you to President of the Swiss Confederation Schlumpf and Danish Prime Minister Schluter. At Tabs A and B, respectively, are proposed letters for your signature outlining your concerns about the increased evidence of Soviet anti-semitism and repression of human rights.³ The text has been cleared by Speechwriters.

Discussion: I concur with State’s recommendation and believe that Ambassador Stoessel’s second mission to Europe will provide us with a useful follow-up to last year’s consultations and a timely opportunity to enlist the help of the Swiss and the Danes in devising a common human rights policy.

RECOMMENDATION

1. That you approve the designation of Ambassador Stoessel’s trip to Europe as a Presidential Mission.⁴

2. That you approve the proposed text of the attached letters to be delivered by Ambassador Stoessel.⁵

1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC: Subject File, Human Rights (05/1984–07/1984). Confidential. Sent for action. Drafted by Dobriansky. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads: “The President has seen.”
2. In a July 3 memorandum to McFarlane, Hill forwarded the Deparment’s recommendation of the second Stoessel mission to the NSC. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, P840123–1695)
3. Tabs A and B are not attached. In telegram 208685 to Bern, Copenhagen, Bonn, and Paris, July 17, the Department transmitted the text of the Presidential letters. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D840455–0286)
4. Reagan checked and initialed the “OK” option.
5. Reagan checked and initialed the “OK” option.