The original documents are located in Box C6, folder “Presidential Handwriting, 11/15/74” of the Presidential Handwriting File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.

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Digitized from Box C6 of The Presidential Handwriting File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library Presidential Ford R. Gerald the at File Handwriting Presidential The of C6 Box from Digitized

more more food food aid aid in in the the next next several several months? months?

momentum momentum toward toward other other developed developed countries countries contributing contributing

at at this this time, time, what what can can the the U.S. U.S. do do now now to to help help maintain maintain the the

Given Given l. l. the the U.S. U.S. decision decision not not to to provide provide additional additional food food aid aid

ahead, ahead, the the U.S. U.S. must must provide provide answers answers to to the the following following questions: questions:

To To provide provide this this positive positive leadership leadership now now and and in in the the weeks weeks immediately immediately

problem. problem.

attempts attempts to to develop develop solid solid longer longer term term solutions solutions to to the the world world food food

that that the the short short term term U.S. U.S. and and world world crop crop situation situation does does not not undermine undermine

portionate portionate amount amount of of the the bill. bill. Particularly, Particularly, we we should should try try to to assure assure

ing ing in in Rome, Rome, while while at at the the same same time time not not ending ending up up paying paying a a dispro­

the the desirable desirable momentum momentum toward toward more more burden burden sharing sharing that that is is develop­

Food Food Conference Conference continues, continues, to to provide provide positive positive leadership leadership to to enhance enhance

To To avoid avoid this this outcome, outcome, the the U.S. U.S. should should act, act, even even while while the the World World

abroad abroad become become apparent apparent over over the the next next few few months. months.

criticism criticism as as the the consequences consequences of of increasingly increasingly severe severe food food shortages shortages

this this well well publicized publicized decision decision will will leave leave the the U.S. U.S. open open to to mounting mounting

tribution tribution will will be be responsive responsive to to the the growing growing needs. needs. Standing Standing alone, alone,

11 11

to to do do everything everything humanly humanly possible possible to to assure assure that that our our future future con­

11

food food aid aid in in the the short short term term will will be be interpreted interpreted by by many many as as a a failure failure

However, However, the the U.S. U.S. decision decision not not to to commit commit now now to to providing providing more more

in in the the next next several several critical critical months months until until a a new new crop crop can can be be harvested. harvested.

other other developed developed countries countries to to share share in in the the food food aid aid burden, burden, especially especially

movement movement toward toward the the long long sought sought after after U.S. U.S. goal goal of of encouraging encouraging

of of the the food food aid aid is is sue sue in in the the U.S. U.S. and and abroad. abroad. In In Rome, Rome, there there is is

As As expected, expected, the the World World Food Food Conference Conference has has increased increased the the visibility visibility

World World Food Food Conference Conference

Food Food Aid Aid Issues Issues Raised Raised by by SUBJECT: SUBJECT: the the

FROM: FROM:

THE THE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT MEMORANDUM MEMORANDUM FOR: FOR:

November November 12, 12, 1974 1974

WASHINGTON WASHINGTON

THE THE WHITE WHITE HOUSE HOUSE

THE THE PRESIDEHT PRESIDEHT HAS HAS SEEN SEEN ...... , . .

I, I, " " - 2 -

2. What can be done to make Secretary Kissinger's commitment -- that the U. S. will do "everything humanly possible" to help feed the starving and the hungry -- credible for Americans and other nations?

3. What can the U.S. do to assure Americans and other countries that the pressures created by today' s food shortages have not caused us to shrink from accepting a responsible leadership role in helping develop solutions for the longer term world food problem?

RECOMMENDATION

That you ask the International Food Review Group to consider the above issues and, at the earliest possible time, to recommend actions that the U.S. should take at the World Food Conference, and in the weeks immediately following the Conference, to provide positive leadership on the world food is sue within the limits of our responsibility and the resources we are willing to make available for such an effort. (Seid n, Scowcroft and Cole concur.)

DISAPPROVE ------

THE WHITE HOUSE

ACTION ~viE:MORANDCM WASIII'OGTOl'\ LOG NO.:

Date: Nove ber 12, 1974 Time:

FOR ACTION: ill Seidman (for EPB) cc (for information): Brent Scowcroft Ken Cole

FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY

DUE: Date: Time: m "'-•00 p m SUBJECT:

Ash memo (11/12/74) re: Food .Aid Issues Raised by the World Food Conference

ACTION REQUESTED:

__ For Necessary Action _]£ For Your Recommendations

__ Prepare Agenda and Brief Draft Reply

X For Your Comments Draft Remarks

REMARKS: ;;,

I

I ~;r PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.

If you have any questions or i£ you anticipate a delay in submitting the required m.aterial, please K. R. COLE, JR. telephone the Sia££ Secretary immediately. For the President ~ (i • .I ! ( I :i ~- j f; I ·-----·- ·~--- :,~ '

~ ' i THE WHITE HoUSE f WASHINaTON . I' f . ll/14/74 ' f ' .~

Roger Porter: ~ l ~ Attached is the new memo --only Ii ~ the recommendation paragraph was l tI changed. Could we have clearance ~ from Mr. Seidman as soon as J ! possible, today. Thank you. l ~ I Dianna Gwin f• i .• Office of the } i Staff Secretary t \ ( • ''· I ~ l • f ., I ...~· I " I '. .. I ' 4 ' i' .. i

f ~•

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

November 12, 1974

MEMORANDUlvi FOR: THE PRESIDENT

FROM: R 9-L. L.--ASH . Jr--~-- ' SUBJECT: Food. Aid Issues Raised by the World Food Conference

As expected, the World Food Conference has increased the visibility of the food aid is sue in the U.S. and abroad. In Rome, there is movement toward the long sought after U.S. goal of encouraging other developed countries to share in the food aid burden, especially in the next several critical months until a new crop can be harvested.

However, the U.S. deci sian not to commit now to providing more food aid in the short term will be interpreted by many as a failure "to do everything humanly possible to assure that our future con­ tribution will be responsive to the growing needs. 11 Standing alone, this well publicized decision will leave the U.S. open to mounting criticism as the consequences of increasingly severe food shortages abroad become apparent over the next few months.

To avoid this outcome, the U.S. should act, even while the World Food Conference continues, to provide positive leadership to enhance the desirable momentum toward more burden sharing that is develop­ ing in Rome, while at the same time not ending up paying a dispro­ portionate amount of the bill. Particularly, we should try to assure that the short term U.S. and world crop situation does not undermine attempts to develop solid longe:r term solutions to the world food problem.

To provide this positive leadership now and in the weeks immediately ahead, the U.S. must provide answers to the following questions:

1. Given the U.S. deci sian not to provide additional food aid at this time, what can the U.S. do now to help maintain the momentum toward other developed countries contributing more food aid in the next several months? ..

-2-

z·. What can be done to make Secretary Kissinger's commitment -- that the U.S. will do "everything hurnanly possible" to help feed the starving and the hungry -- credible for Americans and,other nations?

3. What can the U.S. do to assure A~ericans and other countries that the pressures crejrled by today's food shortages_have not cau~ed u%·t shri~k from accepting a respon le leadership role n helpmg develop solutions fo the longer ter world food problem?

RECOMMENDATION l / I

That you ask the Executiv / ittee of the Economic Policy Board

to consider the above issue 1 d, at the earliest possible time, to

recommend·actions that th€1 T. . should take at the World Food Conference, and in the we s i \ ediately following the Conference, to provide positive leade ship~ the world food issue within the ·limits of our responsib" ity and ~e resources we are willing to make available for such an fort. ' '\

APPROVE: DISAPPROVE: ------~- • ------~------

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

MEMORANDUM FOR November 12, 1974

The Secretary of the Treasury The Secretary of Agriculture The Deputy Secretary of State Director, Office of Management and Budget The Chairman, Council of Economic Advisors The President's Special Representative for Trade Negotiations Executive Director, Economic Policy Board Executive Director, Council on International Economic Policy

SUBJECT: Follow-Up Group to World Food Conference

The President has directed that an International Food Review Group, com­ prising the addressees of this memorandum, be established to coordinate the implementation of United States' decisions and initiatives stemming from the World Food Conference. It should, as appropriate, make recommenda­ tions on further actions to be taken to implement the measures announced at the Conference. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Agriculture are to be Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively.

The Group should coordinate its recommendations, as they relate to U.S. agriculture and trade policy, with the Executive Committee of the President's Economic Policy Board.

The International Food Review Group should create a working group chaired· by the representative of the Secretary of State with the representative of the Secretary of Agriculture as Vice Chairman. Other members of the working group should be representatives of the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Executive Director of the Council on International Economic Policy and the President's Special Representative for Trade Nego­ tiations. The working group should coordinate its activities with U.S. Gov­ ernment efforts in multilateral trade negotiations. Other agencies may be invited to participate in the working group as appropriate...... "'

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

Novennber 13, 1974

NOTE FOR JERRY JONES

FROM: BOB HORMATSfSU.I

The NSC view on Roy Ash's nnenno to the President on food aid issues is that the sub­ stantive questions raised nnerit consideration but that, in the light of the fact that the President has directed establishnnent of the International Food Review Group, that Group rather than the EPB should consider the issues raised by Ash. • "fi ...... 4 • • •

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

November 15, 1974

ADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL

MEMORANDUM FOR: ROY L. ASH

FROM: JERRY H.*

SUBJECT: Food Aid Issues Raised by the World Food Conference

Your memorandum to the President of November 12 on the above subject has been reviewed and your recommendation outlined in the memorandum has been approved.

Please follow-up with the appropriate action.

Thank you.

cc: Don Rumsfeld