98. Memorandum From the President’s Counsel (Lipshutz) to President Carter1

SUBJECT

  • Human Rights Policy

Attached is a proposed “Presidential Decision Memorandum” which I urge you to sign.

[Page 335]

I believe that this will be extremely helpful to you and the Secretary of State and Dr. Brzezinski as a meaningful way of reenforcing and institutionalizing within the State Department bureaucracy this fundamental policy of the Administration.

I also believe that it will be of assistance to us in our attempts to defuse the efforts by Congressman Harkins and others to attach mandatory provisions to numerous legislative bills which are coming up in the Congress, by demonstrating your determination to further institutionalize your Human Rights Policy in the State Department.

If you approve this Presidential Decision Memorandum, I will have it drafted in final form for your signature.2

Attachment

Paper Prepared in the Office of the White House Counsel3

SUBJECT

  • Presidential Determination on Human Rights and United States Foreign Policy

The fundamental premise for human rights priorities in determining United States foreign policy is the positive influence upon interstate relations resulting from greater individual government sensitivity and respect for the rights of its respective population. The reduction of domestic tension between particular peoples and their governments—a result of enhanced government acknowledgment of the rights of the governed—will bring about a consequent reduction of tensions between governments.

U.S. Government foreign policy requirements will therefore include a careful evaluation of human rights obligations accepted by all governments with which this country has normal diplomatic relations or other established ties. The Department of State will have primary responsibility for defining the legal, political and other internationally accepted obligations upon governments to respect human rights.

The official U.S. foreign policy community, under the direction of the Department of State, will establish, evaluate and review estimates of the extent the United States Government shall support human rights policies or initiatives of foreign governments. It will also determine the [Page 336] need, where appropriate, for public or discreet official U.S. expressions of concern over the abuse of human rights clearly attributable to foreign governments’ policies or decisions whether tendered publicly by spokespersons for this government, by representatives in multilateral international organizations, or by diplomatic officials in the course of normal discussions with representatives of particular countries.

It shall be the responsibility of all diplomatic representatives of the United States to set forth clearly to their foreign counterparts the commitment of the United States Government to seek greater respect by all governments for the human rights of their respective populations. Where such exist, the legal, legislative, or other recognized obligations upon the United States Government to evaluate and convey its human rights concerns to other governments will be reaffirmed to representatives of foreign governments whenever matters under consideration relate to these obligations.

  1. Source: Carter Library, Staff Office Files, Counsel’s Office, Robert J. Lipshutz Files, 1977–1979, Box 18, Human Rights, 12/77. No classification marking. Sent through Brzezinski, who did not initial the memorandum.
  2. There is no indication as to whether the President approved or disapproved the recommendation.
  3. No classification marking.