Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XLI, Global Issues II

218. National Security Study Directive 1–84¹

Washington, February 27, 1984

U.S. THIRD WORLD HUNGER RELIEF (S)

Introduction

This National Security Study Directive establishes the terms of reference for an action oriented program plan for Third World Hunger Relief based on an assessment of current U.S. policies and feasible new policies and programs. (S)

Objective of the Study

To produce a National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) for consideration by the National Security Council and in turn for decision by the President. (S)

Scope

The study will include, at a minimum, the following topics:

—An overview of Third World hunger issues linked to U.S. strategic, trade, humanitarian and development interests.

—An examination of the effectiveness of U.S. policy tools and resources used to alleviate hunger.

—A review and enumeration of recommendations from prior Presidentially approved studies which were presented to the Congress and enacted.

—Additional policy options for assuring effective U.S. support for relieving Third World hunger problems.

—Alternatives for reducing or expanding U.S. food aid resources to address the hunger problem should be evaluated in the context of a four year planning framework—1984–1988.

—An examination of the probable demands and/or tradeoffs on future economic and security assistance funding resulting from higher food aid levels, including appropriate levels and time frames. This should also include an examination of other reactions, donors, suppliers and recipient countries to higher or lower food aid levels.

—Alternatives to current agricultural export assistance programs should be considered, particularly those creative alternatives which contribute to increasing Third World food supplies, short-term liquidity, export earnings and food production. These should be examined and presented noting their impact on:

• Whether U.S. actions to increase food aid resources would conflict with international trade obligations.

• How the Administration and Congress would deal with domestic reactions to creative policy alternatives which increase or decrease agricultural exports in the interest of relieving Third World hunger.

• The impact of new initiatives on 1985 farm legislation.

• Administration strategy to increase public and private sector cooperation in simultaneously relieving Third World debt and hunger.

• Net budgetary impact over 1984–1988. (S)

Administration

Management of the NSSD review will be the responsibility of an interagency steering group chaired by the Department of State. AID will serve as deputy chair for this study. Ambassador Robert Keating of State will be the study chairman. Richard Levine of the NSC staff will serve as study coordinator. Representatives will be from the following agencies and departments: State, Defense, CIA, Treasury, Agriculture, the Office of the Vice President, OMB, USTR, Peace Corps, AID, USIA, CEA, Commerce and NSC. This group under State chairmanship will report its findings to the National Security Council not later than April 30, 1984. (S)

All matters relating to this NSSD will be classified secret. Dissemination of this NSSD, subsequent study material, and the resulting draft NSSD will be handled on a strict need-to-know basis. (S)

Ronald Reagan

1. Source: National Archives, Collection RR–NSC, Numbered National Security Policy Papers 1981–1989, National Security Study Directives (NSSDs), 01/20/1981–1/20/1989 (accessed online). Secret.