165. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter1

Uganda. We told the Executive Committee of the Uganda National Liberation Front, in response to their inquiry, that once a new government is in place, we would look forward to restoring relations and reopening our Embassy. We said we would want to work closely with a new government which had the support of the Ugandan people and was able to gain wider African acceptance, in the expectation that it would move soon to reestablish democratic institutions. Looking ahead, we said we would entertain requests from such a government for humanitarian assistance and longer-term development aid, and also work with the Congress to remove restrictions on trade with Uganda.2

[Omitted here are items unrelated to East Africa.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 21, Evening Reports (State) 4/79. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum.
  2. In telegram 1502 from USUN, April 6, the Mission reported on the April 3 meeting with UNLF representatives. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P790158–0240)