Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973–1976

176. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford¹

Washington, October 14, 1976.

SUBJECT

• Presidential Determination Under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act (P.L. 480) to Permit the Sale of Agricultural Commodities to Portugal

Acting Secretary of State Robinson recommends that you exercise your authority under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act (P.L. 480) to determine that it is in the national interest to sell up to $50 million worth of agricultural commodities to Portugal during Fiscal Year 1977 (Tab B). This Determination is required to waive a provision of the Act which excludes from eligibility for concessional sales countries such as Portugal which permit trade with Cuba. A proposed Determination and supporting statements is at Tab A.

As Mr. Robinson notes, Portugal is facing serious economic difficulties which could rekindle communist-led labor unrest and threaten the stability of the new democratically-elected government. This proposed concessional sale will respond in part to Portugal’s food import needs, and will constitute further evidence of our support for Portuguese democracy. Also noted by Mr. Robinson is the broad, bipartisan Congressional support for providing economic assistance to Portugal, and the concurrence in this recommendation of the Department of Agriculture.

Section 103(d)(3) of P.L. 480 requires that any waiver thereunder be reported to Congress within 10 days of your making the Determination that such waiver is in the national interest. There is no requirement that a Statement of Reasons accompany the report to Congress under this section, but as a matter of policy, such a statement has been prepared to accompany the Determination. Formal notification to Congress after the Determination has been signed will be made by the Department of State.

Max Friedersdorf and Jack Marsh concur in this recommendation, as does OMB (Tab C).

Recommendation

That you sign the Determination at Tab A.

1. Summary: Scowcroft sought Ford’s approval of a Presidential Determination to permit the sale of agricultural commodities to Portugal.

   Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Europe, Canada, and Ocean Affairs Staff Files, Box 19, Portugal 1976 (8) WH. Limited Official Use. Sent for action. Hyland initialed the memorandum on Scowcroft’s behalf. Attached but not published is Tab A, Presidential Determination No. 77–1, dated October 18 and signed by Ford; Tab B, a September 22 memorandum from Robinson to Ford; and Tab C, an October 4 memorandum from Lynn to Ford. A stamped notation on Scowcroft’s memorandum indicates the President saw it.