LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM FRANK R. WOLF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88T00528R000100070004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2008
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 19, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

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THE DIRECTOR OF
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
STAT
NIC/AG
FROM: Herbert E. Meyer
Vice Chairman, NIC
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19 E. MARKET ST.
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(7031777-4422
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
December 19, 1984
SU1.C0.-,.IITTE ES
AVIATION
SURFACE
POST OFFICE AND
CIVIL SERVICE
SU5C),MMITTEE5
CIVIL SERVICE
POSTAL PERSONNEL
AND MODERNIZATION
SELECT COMMITTEE
ON CHILDREN. YOUTH
AND FAMILIES
Dear Mr. President:
After returning last week from five days in Ethiopia that
included two nights in the feeding camps at Alamata, I am pleased
and proud to report that because of your efforts and the
generosity of the American people, much progress has been made in
supplying the Ethiopian people with food. At the same time, I
must report that supplies of adequate food are only part of the
problem at this point.
Equally great is the need for shelter and medical supplies.
At night, the temperature drops as low as 32 degrees and many of
the children have little or no clothing. People are dying
because they lack shelter and blankets.
I am recommending that the United States lead an
international airlift to Ethiopia which'could provide basic
shelter and sanitary conditions for these people to prevent
death, epidemics and disease from ravaging this nation. I
believe that an airlift which could quickly establish base camps
offers the best opportunity to provide the relief needed to bring
the Ethiopian people through their crisis.
The airlift should utilize appropriate cargo planes to ship
self-sustaining "camps." These camps should include trucks,
complete cooking facilities, shelter such as plastic tarpaulin,
oral rehydration and medical supplies, fuel, food and sanitation
supplies. Such camps could be dropped in remote areas which are
inaccessible by ground transportation. All available military
personnel or perhaps the.National Guard should be utilized.
After the government has taken the lead in this intensive effort,
the private voluntary organizations could take over and operate
the camps.
Such a massive effort is not without precedent in our
nation. In recent history, the U.S. has played a major role in
providing aid to other countries during natural disasters. In
1976 U.S. Army helicopters ferried medicine to earthquake victims
in Guatemala. By July 1978, the U.S. had provided $42 million in
government aid and $42.8 million in voluntary contributions for
Guatemala disaster relief. Personnel came from the military, the
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The President
December 19, 1984
Page 2
Peace Corps, the U.S. Embassy and many voluntary relief
organizations to work in Guatemala. An initial shipment of
relief supplies taken from stocks in the Panama Canal Zone
included 500 tents, 250 quarts of plasma, an emergncy generator,
12 water tanks, a first aid station, a sterilizer and medical
supplies.
This relief effort was the result of the coordination of
U.S. government and private funds, military aircraft and
personnel, and supplies donated by the private sector. Most of
the same parties contributed to other U.S. aid projects in Italy
in 1980 after a devastating earthquake, as part of the Berlin
airlift after World War II and during a famine relief assistance
project to Russian peasants in the early 1900's.
In addition, I believe it is crucial that you appoint a high
level emissary assigned by you personally to meet with Ethiopian
officials and negotiate the airlift effort. Someone of the
stature of General Walters should be considered to lead this
effort. It will also be important to our ongoing efforts to
assist the Ethiopian people that you appoint an U.S. ambassador
in Ethiopia who would be highly visible and serve -as an
articulate spokesperson for the United States in working with the
Ethiopian government.
Some will no doubt argue that this offer will be refused or
hindered by the Marxist-Communist Ethiopian government. I
believe, however, that the U.S. must still make the offer.
Perhaps when their government sees our willingness to provide
such generous humanitarian assistance they will realize the
advantages of accepting. The people have seen, as I did, Soviet
troops and helicopters in Ethiopia and know that while they are
providing military supplies, the United States is providing
relief. This has not been lost on the people of Ethiopia and
will not be lost on the people of the Third World.
I believe a good faith effort from the United States to
provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia through
an airlift project can serve as a example to Third World and
other African nations that the American people are sincerely
concerned about the very survival of these peoples. Without our
direct involvement, however, thousands more will die and food
currently being sent to Ethiopia may be siphoned off by the
250,000 military rather than delivered to the needy.
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The President
December 19, 1984
Page 3
I also have some personnel recommendations on more specific
needs in Ethiopia which I have shared with Director McPherson at
AID and which are included in the enclosed letter. I hope you
will also consider these.
Mr. President, we all know of your humanitarian spirit and
deep feeling for people who suffer here and elsewhere. I know
that you can feel and appreciate the plight of the man who held
up his arms and begged me to help his only daughter who was
starving and needed shelter. Our nation has the opportunity to
make a difference and reach out in the finest tradition of the
American spirit of compassion and giving by leading a massive
airlift effort for Ethiopia. I urge your quick and courageous
action and offer my assistance to you in any way.
Sincerely,
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
FRW/bm
enclosure
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