Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XX, Eastern Europe

1. Presidential Review Memorandum/NSC–9¹

Washington, February 1, 1977

TO

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

ALSO

• The Secretary of the Treasury
• The United States Representative to the United Nations
• The Director, Office of Management and Budget
• The Chairman, Council of Economic Advisors
• The Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
• The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
• The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

• Comprehensive Review of European Issues (U)

The President has directed that the Policy Review Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Department of State, undertake a broad review of US policy concerning key European issues. The review should be completed no later than March 1, 1977.

The review should address the following issues:²

[Omitted here is information unrelated to Eastern Europe.]

4. Eastern Europe: This section should analyze the situation in the area in terms of general trends—political, economic and social stability. The status and outlook in each country for relative internal liberalization and external independence should be examined. In particular, there should be a discussion of how the US should approach the area and the countries involved; whether and how we should differentiate among the countries in trading or political relations, e.g., treat them more or less uniformly, or primarily as a function of the policy toward the USSR, or on the basis of other criteria, e.g., should US policy be more forthcoming toward Eastern European countries that are relatively more liberal internally (e.g., Poland and Hungary), or relatively more independent from Moscow (e.g., Romania). This review should include an examination of the role of RFE/RL. This analysis should also address the GDR in the context of US-German and Berlin policies, as well as Eastern Europe.

5. Security Issues: East-West: An analysis should be made of East-West relations in Europe, probable trends, tradeoffs, and issues or contingencies that might arise. It should examine the constraints on further progress, the main elements of an East-West agenda and priorities of US policy. This analysis should include an examination of Soviet policy and objectives in European security. In particular, the following sub-issues should be covered:

(a) MBFR: As a follow up to the priority work being undertaken in PRM/NSC–6,³ an analysis should be included in this study of the role of mutual force reduction (including MBFR) in East-West relations, its priority, objectives, prospects, as well as possible US initiatives.

(b) CSCE: This section should describe the status, and examine the utility of CSCE, particularly for increasing East-West contacts and effecting changes in the human rights area. It should analyze the role of CSCE in the overall East-West relationship and its priority in US policy during and beyond the Belgrade Conference.

(c) Berlin and Germany: This section should describe the present situation in terms of the Quadripartite Agreement, the inter-German relationship, possible Soviet-GDR moves, and the efficacy of current Allied consultative arrangements; an examination should be made of whether the Three Western Powers and/or the FRG should undertake any new initiatives to improve the situation; analysis also should include the FRG-Soviet relationship in broader European security terms.

Zbigniew Brzezinski

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 27, PRM–9 [1]. Secret. Hyland forwarded the memorandum to Brzezinski for signature on January 29, stating it had been thoroughly coordinated with the Department of State and the Department of Defense. (Ibid.) On January 5, two weeks prior to the inauguration, the President-elect’s team held a “mini” NSC meeting to discuss the foreign policy agenda for the administration. Included in the Summary of Conclusions of the meeting was a recommendation that a comprehensive review of Europe be held prior to the NATO Ministerial meeting scheduled to take place in London May 10–11. Carter approved the Summary of Conclusions of the meeting. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 78, Brzezinski, Chron to/from President: 1/77)
2. The memorandum also covered European relations, NATO, and economic issues. Scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XXVII, Western Europe.
3. PRM/NSC–6 ordered a review of U.S. policy toward MBFR. Scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. V, European Security, 1977–1983.