196. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of State Rogers1 2
SUBJECT:
- New Proposals on Nigerian Assistance
The President has reviewed your memorandum to him of May 1, 1970, which proposed a course of action for U.S. policy with respect to Nigerian assistance.
The President approves your recommendation that the United States devote increasing attention and effort to rehabilitation and long-term recovery. He also agrees that the six specific operational steps which you outlined with respect to relief should be pursued.
However, the President continues to believe that there is no inherent contradiction between good relations with the Nigerian Government and a significant continuing U S. contribution to relief. He believes that the obstacles confronting the relief program at the present time are indicative of the seriousness of current relief needs and should not be taken as a reason for reducing our relief effort.
The President therefore directs that vigorous efforts be made to insure that the Government of Nigeria is aware of our perception of the seriousness of the need, of our willingness to be of help, and of the specific types of assistance that we are ready to provide. He wants to be certain that we do everything possible to maintain an undiminished flow of relief supplies to meet critical needs over the next several months.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 742, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria, Vol. I. Secret.↩
- Kissinger informed Rogers that the President approved increased attention to rehabilitation and long-term recovery in Nigeria, but saw no contradiction between good relations and a significant continuing U.S. contribution to relief.↩