Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969–1972

322. Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Packard) to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer)¹ ²

Washington, July 22, 1971

SUBJECT:

• Kagnew Station Communications Facilities

I am forwarding to, the Chairman, NSC Under Secretaries Committee, the conclusions of the study conducted by the JCS on the communications facilities at Kagnew Station Asmara, Ethiopia.

I believe that we should continue to seek ways that might allow us to phase-down our facilities there whenever feasible. Therefore, I would like you to maintain a continuous review of our communications requirements and submit to me any changes in our need for the Kagnew facilities. Also, as requested in my memorandum of 17 July 1969, the Contingency Relocation Plan for the Kagnew Station Complex should be updated as required.

Since our own review is partly dependent upon the telecommunications requirements of the [text not declassified] located there, I have suggested to the Under Secretary that it would be desirable if the [text not declassified] would also review periodically its requirements.

David Packard

1. Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–76–197, Ethiopia, 1971, Box 63. Secret.
2. Packard suggested continuing to seek ways to phase-down Kagnew facilities whenever feasible.