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
[Page 115]
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.
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.
