115. Telegram From the Department of State to All Diplomatic and Consular Posts1

36188. Subject: Release of Human Rights Reports. Reference: State 18330.2

1. The Chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee released the 105 “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices” February 9. A statement was issued in the names of the two chairmen which noted the legislative basis for the submission of the reports, and emphasized Congress’s role in setting “basic guidelines of America’s human rights policy”. The statement noted that “during the past two years, Congress has enacted legislation linking a country’s human rights performance to the four major types of foreign assistance: security assistance, bilateral development assistance, multilateral assistance, and PL 480 food aid. To insure that human rights considerations are taken into account in U.S. assistance policies, Congress has established certain procedures and guidelines for the Executive Branch to follow. These reports are a key element in providing Congress with the necessary information for informed judgements”. The statement continued, “Our two committees will study these reports carefully as we prepare to consider aid levels for individual countries in connection with fiscal year 1979 economic and security assistance legislation.”

2. The reports have already been the subject of a number of newspaper articles and at least one editorial, which appeared in The Washington Post February 8.3 We expect more to come.

3. The Department has ordered sufficient copies of the volume of reports to provide two to each Embassy, one for its own use and one to provide to the host government, if desired. The reports will be forwarded by pouch as soon as received from the GPO.

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4. The Department wishes to thank and commend all who assisted in collecting and reporting human rights information, and drafting and clearing of reports for submission to Congress.

Vance
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780063–0667. Unclassified; Priority. Drafted by H. Kenneth Hill; cleared by Martens, Moran, Lamb, Shinn, and Shurtleff; approved by Hill.
  2. See Document 106.
  3. Presumable reference to Bernard Gwertzman, “U.S. Rights Report on 105 Lands Is Bleak Except for a Few Gains,” The New York Times, February 10, 1978, pp. A–1 and A–14, and John Goshko, “U.S. Accuses Key Allies of Rights Abuses,” The Washington Post, February 10, 1978, pp. A–1 and A–12. The February 8 Washington Post editorial is entitled “Human Rights Report Card” (p. A–18).