Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–14, Part 1, Documents on the United Nations, 1973–1976

112. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, March 23, 1974.¹ ²

Washington, March 23, 1974

MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
ACTION

March 23, 1974

MEMORANDUM FOR: Henry A. Kissinger
FROM: BRENT SCOWCROFT

SUBJECT:

Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for U.S. Security and Overseas Interests

Attached at Tab I are a proposed memorandum to the President and a draft NSSM recommending a study by the Under Secretaries Committee of the national security implications of worldwide population growth.

A NSSM at tis time on population growth is useful for two reasons:

1. It will be helpful in designing the U.S. position for the wold population conference this August in Bucharest.

2. It will respond to frequent letters which the President and you have received, principally from Bill Draper, urging NSC focus on this problem. The proposed study focusses on the implications of population growth for our security and other overseas interests (e.g., trade and development); it does not contemplate review of ecological and sociological aspects. The study is proposed for accomplishment by the Under Secretaries Committee in order to keep it a low-key and hopefully manageable project. There may be pressure to include agencies like CIEP, CEA, and OMB in the study group, but we can hope to avoid that by billing this as a preliminary effort on which we would seek their views for further ork. We may have to concede CIEP participation at the outset, but I propose that we wait to see if pressure to do so actually develops.

RECOMMENDATION:

That you forward the memorandum at Tab I to the President requesting approval to issue the NSSM at Tab A, or, alternatively that you sign the NSSM at Tab A.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–204, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 200 [2 of 2]. Confidential. Sent for action. Kissinger wrote at the top of the memorandum, “Brent, we don’t need Pres. OK for NSSM’s.” Tab I, Kissinger’s undated memorandum to Nixon, is attached but not published. On it, Kissinger initialed his approval of Scowcroft’s recommendation on Nixon’s behalf. Tab A, as signed, is published as Document 113.
2. Scowcroft recommended issuance of a National Security Study Memorandum on world population issues.