Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume IX, International Development and Economic Defense Policy; Commodities

41. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture Freeman, and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (Bell)¹

Washington, October 6, 1965.

Because of the importance and difficulty of the problem of the world food situation and U.S. food policy, those of us in the White House who are concerned with the problem have been working on ways of making sure that the Administration does not step on its own toes in this area in the next few months. We have worked out the attached one-page statement of suggestions for the position to be taken by U.S. officials, and with the consent of my colleagues, Schultze, Califano and Reuter, I send it to you for your comment. If we can all agree on something along this line, I think we can do a better job for the President in protecting his decision-making responsibilities, but we would welcome comments as to the precise form these guidelines should take.

McGeorge Bundy ²

Attachment³

SUGGESTIONS FOR POSITION TO BE TAKEN BY U.S. OFFICIALS IN DISCUSSING THE WORLD FOOD SITUATION AND U.S. FOOD AID POLICY

I. The following topics can be usefully and appropriately discussed:

1. The seriousness of the problem of world hunger.

2. The problem of malnutrition.

3. The need for effective concern with the problem of population.

4. The accomplishments of our food aid program to date.

5. The need to relate food aid to the economic development of LDC’s and to other forms of aid, particularly the need for LDC’s to make a major effort to develop their own agricultural sectors and for many of them to increase the emphasis given to agriculture in their overall development planning. In this connection, it is appropriate to point out that the present food-exporting countries cannot feed the world indefinitely.

6. The continued careful attention and serious study given this important subject by the U.S. Government.

In these areas the existing record of the President and of other officers is strong and clear. We should not hesitate to refer to it.

II. The following topics should be avoided, as premature at this time:

1. Any indication of change in U.S. food aid policy.

2. Any comment on the Administration’s view of next year’s P.L. 480 legislation.

3. Any discussion of the implications of U.S. farm policy for food aid.

4. Any implication that this problem is one which is about to come to a point of major decisions at the White House. It is essential that the President’s control over the timing and content of any new decisions and actions not be prejudiced by any member of his own Administration.

1. Source: Johnson Library, White House Central File, Confidential File, FO 3–2, 10/6/65, Box 47. Confidential. Copies were sent to Schultze, Reuter, and Califano. A handwritten note on the source text reads: “JAC[alifano] has seen.”
2. Printed from a copy that indicates Buddy signed the original.
3. No classification marking.