30. Presidential Review Memorandum/NSC–341

TO

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

ALSO

  • The Secretary of the Treasury
  • The Secretary of Energy
  • The Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
  • The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • The Director of Central Intelligence

The President has directed that the Policy Review Committee, under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State, analyze our policies toward Morocco and Algeria in the context of our broad interests in North Africa. (C)

The background paper should briefly discuss:

—U.S. interests in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and in North Africa as a region.

—The Soviet role in North Africa.

—Issues requiring early decision, e.g., Moroccan arms requests, strategy for the visit of King Hassan, Exim credits for Algeria, timing of Nouira visit, rescheduling of Boumediene visit.

—Longer term issues, e.g., recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, a possible US role in promoting a settlement of the Sahara dispute, prospects for preventing a deterioration in US-Algerian economic and political relations, US policy on terrorism and its effects in North Africa. (S)

The paper should identify strategies which the United States might follow over the next several years, analyzing in each case the probable effects on US interests, Soviet prospects, and the key issues which we face in the near and longer term. (S)

These strategies should include, but not necessarily be limited to, a continuation of our present approach; a closer alignment with Morocco; and an effort to promote a peaceful resolution of the Sahara conflict. (S)

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The review should be no longer than 20 pages in length. It should be submitted to the Policy Review Committee by April 28,2 1978.

Zbigniew Brzezinski
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 69, PRC 062, 6/13/78, North Africa. Secret.
  2. An unknown hand crossed out “April 28” and wrote “May 5.”