Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917–1972, Volume VIII, Public Diplomacy, 1969–1972

154. National Security Decision Memorandum 143¹

Washington, December 17, 1971

SUBJECT

• United States International Exchange Programs

The President has reviewed the report of the NSC Under Secretaries Committee on U.S. international exchange programs, as forwarded by the Under Secretary of State on August 13, 1971,² and the dissenting memoranda of the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Acting Administrator of AID.³

The President considers that the report highlights the necessity for more effective information systems, coordination, longer-range planning and review of U.S. international exchange programs.

The President has made the following decisions:

—The Secretary of State shall have the responsibility and authority to develop and operate a central information system on exchanges and to levy requirements to collect Exchange program information from all agencies.

—The establishment of a private International Exchange Council to serve as a catalyst between the government and the private sector has been approved, and a more detailed program regarding this council should be forwarded for the President’s consideration.

—The Under Secretaries Committee shall have the responsibility for:

1. Instituting action programs on a priority basis to place selective increased emphasis on exchanges involving potential foreign leaders in the professional and technical fields, particularly in countries where other opportunities for contacts and possible influence are limited. (In U.S. exchange programs generally, leadership will be defined to include clear focus on technical and professional leadership such as scientists, lawyers, doctors and businessmen, in addition to present and prospective political leadership.)

2. Reviewing on a priority basis the substantive areas for possible action outlined in the study (such as creating or assisting public and private leadership development institutions, and expanding or focussing U.S. participation in third-country exchange activities).

3. Coordination, long-range planning and annually reviewing U.S. exchange programs and making recommendations to the agencies or, as appropriate, to the President on exchange policies, priorities and resource planning.

Under Secretaries Committee’s reports on the above action items shall be forwarded for the President’s consideration. In all these reviews, attention should be given to innovative experimentation with new mechanisms of intercountry exchange and cooperation directed toward the achievement of common goals and involving accomplished professionals. Any agency disagreements which may arise in the course of these reviews shall be forwarded for the President’s decision.

The Chairman of the Under Secretaries Committee may establish an interagency subcommittee on international exchanges, including representatives of the standing members of the Under Secretaries Committee and other agencies as appropriate, to assist in the discharge of its responsibility for interagency review and coordination.

The President considers it important that the operations of this interagency committee not compromise the substance or mutual benefit of our technical and scientific exchange programs. In addition, this interagency committee shall neither delimit or replace existing agency responsibilities nor impinge upon established coordinating mechanisms such as those between the Departments of Defense and State for military training programs.

Henry A. Kissinger

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–241, NSDM Files, NSDM 143. Confidential. Copies were sent to Elliot Richardson, O’Donnell, Moorer, and Shultz. Another copy is attached as Tab B to a December 30 memorandum from Richardson to Irwin, printed as Document 156.
2. See Document 145 and footnote 3 thereto.
3. See ibid., footnotes 5 and 6.