465. Memorandum From Robert
Pastor of the National Security Council Staff to the
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1
SUBJECT
- PRM on Central America (S)
At David’s request,2 I have
cut the PRM on Central America in half.
It is attached at Tab I for your signature. (S)
Vaky has accepted my suggestion,
and is holding a Chiefs of Mission Conference for our Ambassadors to the
Central American Governments in San Jose, May 16–18, 1979. I suggested
to him that we should directly involve our Ambassadors in the PRM process in order to obtain from them a
better sense of the feasibility of different approaches and also to
involve them in the policy so that they will be better prepared to
implement it. He has asked me to go down with him to the conference, and
I think that since this is a National Security Council exercise, and
since we have been pressing State to pay closer attention to the
problems of Central America, that I should go. (S)
[Page 1199]
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That you sign the PRM at Tab I.3
That you approve my travelling to the Central American Chiefs of Mission
Conference, May 16–18, 1979.4
Tab I
Presidential Review Memorandum/NSC–465
Washington, May 4, 1979
TO
- The Vice President
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Defense
ALSO
- The Secretary of the Treasury
- The Secretary of Agriculture
- The Secretary of Commerce
- The Director, Office of Management and Budget
- The Special Representative for Trade Negotiations
- The Administrator, Agency for International Development
- The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT
- Review of U.S. Policies Toward
Central America (S)
The President has directed the Policy Review Committee to undertake a
comprehensive review of U.S. policy
for Central America. Our goal is to develop a coherent set of
policies toward each of the countries and toward the region as a
whole that will more effectively promote our interests which include
the development of democratic societies, the observance of human
rights, the ending or diminution of violence and terrorism, and the
denial of the region to forces hostile to the U.S. Among the goals leading to the
promotion of these interests are the economic and social development
of the countries in the region,
[Page 1200]
increased regional cooperation, the
development of a viable, democratic middle in the four northern
countries of Central America. (S)
Under the direction of the Secretary of State, a paper should be
prepared which analyzes the problems in the countries and in the
region, including the impact of the situation in Nicaragua on the
region, and the distinctive causes of violence and instability in
each country. (S)
The review should discuss specific policies which the USG should consider to each nation and
to the region as a whole to further the goals and interests
described above. The policies should address regional issues such as
economic integration and cooperation, and disputes among countries
of the region. It should propose specific policies or positions
toward key groups in the region including guerrilla groups, and
toward countries outside the region that influence or assist these
groups. (S)
The review should include recommendations on how best to involve
other countries outside the region, including Mexico, Panama,
Venezuela, Colombia, the Caribbean, Canada, the UK and Israel, in
the broad effort to promote the goals described. (S)
The Secretary of State should chair the Policy Review Committee, and
the review should be based on a 20-page paper, exclusive of
appendices, to be transmitted to the National Security Council by
June 1, 1979.6 (S)
