Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVI, Southern Africa

259. Presidential Review Memorandum/NSC–4¹

Washington, January 21, 1977

TO

• The Vice President
• The Secretary of State
• The Secretary of Defense

ALSO

• The United States Representative to the United Nations
• The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
• The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

• South Africa and Rhodesian Negotiations

The President has directed that the Policy Review Committee, under the chairmanship of the Department of State, undertake a review of U.S. policy toward Rhodesia, South Africa and Namibia.

The review should:

1. Review the current status of the Rhodesian and Namibian negotiations, including the negotiating positions and indigenous public support for all participants. The positions of the Front-Line states,² and other African and non-African governments involved, should be included.

2. Review current U.S. policy toward these negotiations and identify policy options for future U.S. roles in the area, including timing of the negotiations, and the effects of different U.S. policies on our relations with other black African states.

3. Review U.S. policy toward South Africa, and analyze options for future U.S. posture toward that nation, in light of different possible U.S. roles in the Rhodesian and Namibian negotiations.

4. Assess the effects of U.S. policies in Southern Africa on the U.S. position in the United Nations and other North-South forums.

5. Assess the possibilities of the repeal of the Byrd amendment³ by Congress this year and the effects of repeal or non-repeal on the status of the Rhodesian conflict and on U.S. relations with African states.

6. Examine likely reactions by Congress and the American public to various U.S. options.

The review should be no longer than 30 pages. It should be completed by January 31, in time for consideration by the Policy Review Committee immediately thereafter.⁴

The President has further directed that a comprehensive, long-term review of Southern Africa be undertaken by the Policy Review Committee. The review will be due in the spring and a follow-on tasking memorandum will be forthcoming.

Zbigniew Brzezinski

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Meetings File, Box 1, NSC Meeting: #5 Held 3/22/77, 3/77. Secret.
2. The Front Line States involved in the previous negotiations were Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique.
3. The Byrd Amendment prevented the President from restricting imports of strategic metals from non-Communist countries. (Congress and the Nation, vol. 3, 1969–1972, p. 892) On March 15, 1977, Congress enacted legislation (H.R. 1746) which retained the Byrd Amendment, but suspended its provisions involving imports from Rhodesia. Additionally, the bill required foreign steel suppliers to certify that their products did not contain Rhodesian chromium. (Congress and the Nation, vol. 5, 1977–1980, p. 47)
4. See Document 264.