Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XXX, Public Diplomacy

10. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (Hitchcock) to all Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office and Staff Directors¹

Washington, February 17, 1977

SUBJECT

• CU Program Objectives

Attached is the final list of CU Program Objectives that was compiled by Working Group II, with input from all offices. The list represents the majority view of the members of Working Group II and those of other officers providing comments during the drafting and review process. Although everyone participating does not agree with all items, they do represent a broad consensus of bureau thinking. In my review of them I made a few changes which have not been seen before by the offices. They are now ready for the next step in our planning and management system scenario: the preparation of regional and functional aims. Both the objectives and the aims will be communicated to the field and used in the FY–78 office and post project planning and resource allocations, and in tentative FY–79 projections.

These objectives relate to the broad, long term foreign policy emphases which have been articulated by both the previous administration and Secretary Vance in his confirmation hearings before the Senate.² The objectives represent CU’s perspective on how best to focus its limited resources on the more significant activities that can make a contribution to better mutual understanding and favorably influence the international climate. Ongoing and proposed programs implemented by CU and the posts overseas in support of these objectives must be consistent with the principles outlined in the CU Concept Paper. Their ultimate purposes are an enhanced level of mutual understanding and cooperative relations between the U.S. and other societies. These objectives will provide a coherent framework for describing the focus and content of our various activities.

The next step in our scenario is for each area and functional office (with program funds) to define specific (one or more as appropriate) aims which will contribute to the furtherance of those objectives appropriate to the mission of each office. In preparation for this next phase offices should select those CU program objectives which are relevant to their respective regions or functions. It is anticipated that no office will pursue all objectives.

Although each office will prepare its own unique aims, it is desirable that a common approach be used. In order to start from the same basic perception each office preparing aims should designate one officer to be the focal point for their preparation. This officer’s name should be provided OPP by COB February 18. OPP and EX discussions of the goal preparation process will be held on Tuesday the 22nd.

Each area’s aims will become a part of the CPP guidance sent to the field with the annual instructions.

This effort has been a long and arduous one, but the patience and contributions of all those who have participated is very much appreciated. Now let’s continue to flesh out the system and make it work.

Attachment

Paper Prepared in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs³

Washington, February 1977

CU Program Objectives

Activities of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs seek to foster mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries as a means of promoting more peaceful and harmonious international relations. The Bureau encourages the formation of linkages between individuals and institutions across political boundaries and the development of effective communication spanning cultural gaps. Thus it strives to affect in a constructive manner the human environment in which the nation’s foreign policy is conceived and conducted.

To carry out this general concept, and taking account of broad, long-term U.S. foreign policy emphases, the following program objectives determine the specific content and focus of the CU input into the binational process of designing and implementing mutual exchange programs.

1. To maintain and reinforce effective ties between the U.S. and the industrialized democracies.

2. To increase the number and areas of constructive relationships between the U.S. and closed societies.

3. To establish or improve two-way communication between the U.S. and developing countries.

4. To strengthen individual and institutional capacities to deal with economic interdependence and limited natural resources.

5. To strengthen the capacity of developing countries to understand, select, and adapt science and technology to their own needs.

6. To increase attention to and support for human rights.

7. To strengthen international commitment to protection of the global environment and to improvement of the quality of life.

8. To foster the learning of English and other languages, within their cultural contexts.

9. To promote the development of new concepts of education and intercultural communication.

10. To support the media, communication, and publishing sectors’ efforts to play a constructive role in intercultural communication.

11. To strengthen educational institutions of other countries in specific areas of mutual interest to the United States and the host country.

12. To increase the business sector’s sensitivity to its role in international relations and its impact on U.S. global interests.

13. To strengthen the international component of U.S. educational programs.

14. To increase and diversify the participation of community organizations in international affairs.⁴

15. To improve the formal study abroad of American society and culture.

In implementing all of these objectives CU programs are designed to reflect the rich diversity of American society, representing all significant groups of our citizenry.

1. Source: University of Arkansas Libraries, Special Collections Division, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Historical Collection (CU), MC 468, Group I, CU Organization and Administration, Series I: General Program Policies, Procedures, and Plans, Box 4, CU Policy Papers, 1970s, folder 18. No classification marking. Copies were sent to members of all working groups.
2. An excerpt of Vance’s confirmation hearings is printed in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, Document 14.
3. No classification marking.
4. An unknown hand changed “14” to “15” in this point, changed “15” to “14” in the next point, and drew an arrow from one to the other signifying that their order should be reversed.