Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–6, Documents on Africa, 1973–1976

93. National Security Decision Memorandum 231¹ ²

Washington, August 14, 1973

TO:

• The Secretary of State
• The Secretary of Defense

SUBJECT:

• Ethiopia—Kagnew Station and Military Assistance

Based upon the recommendations of the Senior Review Group and after review of that portion of the study submitted in response to NSSM 184 which concerns Kagnew Station, the President has approved the recommendation of the Secretary of Defense that the Department of Defense withdraw its activities from Kagnew Station with the exception of designated residual functions by the end of Fiscal Year 1974. Planning and implementation of this withdrawal should be accomplished in coordination with the Department of State.

The President has further directed that:

• —The Department of State, in coordination with the Department of Defense, promptly review the United States military assistance programs to Ethiopia. In keeping with our interests in Ethiopia, and in the context of United States objectives in Africa and strategic interests in the Arabian Peninsula-Persian Gulf-Horn of Africa area, grant military assistance and training should continue to be planned at or above the level requested for FY 1974. In addition, credit assistance should be planned to supplement grant military assistance which is made available. The provision of grant and credit military assistance should be without prejudice to the level of economic assistance to be provided to Ethiopia.
• —The Department of State prepare for the President’s review draft instructions to our Ambassador in Addis Ababa to inform the Emperor of United States’ intentions with regard to Kagnew. These instructions shall contain the President’s personal assurances of continued U.S. support for Ethiopia and responsiveness to its needs, subject to available resources, and of the U.S. desire to maintain the excellent relations it enjoys with Ethiopia..

Henry A. Kissinger

1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 305, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March–July 1973. Secret. Copies were sent to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Director of Central Intelligence.
2. The NSDM directed the Departments of State and Defense to review U.S. military assistance to Ethiopia, ensuring that it was at or above the level requested for FY 1974, and directed the Department of State to inform Haile Selassie of U.S. intentions regarding Kagnew Station.