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

32. Memorandum From Paul Henze of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)¹

Washington, March 15, 1979

SUBJECT

• CIA’s Book and Periodical Distribution Program for Eastern Europe and USSR

Stan Turner has provided a report (Tab 2)² in response to your memorandum to him of January 26, 1979 (Tab 3)³ requesting a status report on the book program. The report provides striking evidence of the effectiveness of this program (I have marked in red certain key passages which I recommend you leaf through if you have time) and demonstrates that the program has made highly productive use of the extra funds which you directed be allocated to it nearly two years ago.

The report reveals, however, that the program is being curtailed in FY 1980, by cancelling an increase of $1.5 million which was originally planned. Leveling off (actually slightly reducing) a program such as this after it has gained momentum from expansion is especially unwise and not cost-effective. Funds projected for a FY 1981 increase ($1.5 million) may also not materialize, for the FY 1981 budget process is likely to entail as much squeezing as we have been through on FY 1980. I am told by highly reliable sources in CIA that there is no good reason to cut this program; they made an effort to keep it expanding. They, and I, have the suspicion that Turner, knowing your interest in it, sacrificed it to OMB’s bookkeepers. Whatever the motivation, I do not believe we should let this excellent program “plateau off”. Funds added to it are among the most productive CIA spends for covert action. In fact, this program constitutes a large part of what is left of CIA’s covert action program and they constitute most of what we are doing against our highest-priority target—Eastern Europe and the USSR. I have prepared a short memorandum from you to Turner requesting that funds be reprogrammed to permit continued expansion in FY 1980.

RECOMMENDATION:

That you sign attached memorandum (Tab 1).⁴

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Horn/Special, Box 3, Chron File: 3/79. Secret; Sensitive. Outside the System. Sent for action.
2. Not attached.
3. See footnote 6, Document 29.
4. At Tab 1 is the undated, draft memorandum. A notation on the draft indicates that Brzezinski signed it on March 20. In the memorandum, Brzezinski commented: “The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are our highest-priority targets for sustained covert action impact. Money to permit continued expansion of this entire program during FY 1980 should be found through reprogramming.” Turner responded on April 9, writing that the Agency “will remain alert to the possibility of reprogramming to provide additional funds” for the program. However, Turner cautioned that “Fiscal Year 1980 is a very austere budget and, at this point in time, we cannot identify funds available for such reprogramming.” He added “Will keep looking—” to the memorandum. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Horn/Special, Box 3, Chron File: 4/79)