177. Memorandum From Leslie Denend
of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for
National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1
Washington, December 15, 1978
SUBJECT
- Public Statement of US Human Rights
Policy
As a result of the President’s meeting with Patt
Derian,2 I have begun the review of PD–30 to
develop a version for possible release to the public.
[Page 559]
The draft at Tab A is a minor rework of the PD which softens the language slightly and places it in the
context of an ongoing policy.3
Jerry Schecter and Madeleine Albright’s comments were that the
draft seemed fine but they advised against a release now because of the
delicate situation in Iran.
I agree with the implicit thesis in Madeleine and Jerry’s comments that
without a recognized event or reason for the release, the media will invent
one which may work against our original intentions for a public
statement.
Therefore, we will continue to look for an appropriate way to make the policy
better understood by the public.
Tab A
Paper Prepared in the National Security
Council4
DRAFT
PUBLIC STATEMENT ON US
HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY
As a major objective of US foreign
policy, the US seeks to promote the
observance of human rights throughout the world. This policy is applied
globally, but with due consideration to the cultural, political and
historical characteristics of each nation, and to other fundamental
US interests with respect to the
nation in question.
The US seeks to reduce worldwide
governmental violations of the integrity of the person and to enhance
civil and political liberties and continues to promote basic economic
and social rights.
The full range of diplomatic instruments are used in promoting human
rights including direct diplomatic contacts, public statements, symbolic
acts, consultations with allies, cooperation with non-governmental
organizations, and work with international organizations.
The US attempts to place the greatest
reliance on positive inducements and incentives acknowledging
improvements in human rights, whenever appropriate and possible, through
preferential treatment in
[Page 560]
political relations and economic benefits. To this end, countries with a
good or substantially improving record of human rights observance are
given special consideration in the allocation of US foreign assistance just as countries with a poor or
deteriorating record receive less favorable consideration. Programs for
each fiscal year are reviewed in this light. In the evaluation of the
human rights condition of a foreign nation, primary emphasis is placed
on longer term trends and on the cumulative effect of specific
events.
Except in exceptional circumstances actions are not undertaken which
would result in material or financial support to the police, civil law
enforcement authorities, or others performing internal security
functions of governments engaged in serious violations of human
rights.
US human rights actions within the
International Financial Institutions are designed and implemented so as
not to undermine the essential US
interest of preserving these institutions as effective economic
instruments. To this end, US actions
seek to: utilize most effectively both our voice and our vote;
understand and attempt to influence the Banks’ actions as early as
possible in the loan process; and, engage the support of other nations
and multilateral organizations.
