CIA ASSESSMENT OF THE WORLD SITUATION IN 1970

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: May 21, 2010
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: January 26, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/21 : LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM; Henry A. Kissinger A,-
INFORMATION
January 26, 1970
SUBJECT: CIA Assessment of the World Situation in 1970
The attached report is a CIA effort to provide a balanced assessment
of the world situation at the beginning of the decade. The document
considers the communist situation, the U. S. position, problems in the
exercise of power, the nature of the contest and developments which may
complicate international relations in the 1970s. The report indicates,
inter alia, that:
-_ The impression that the USSR's world position is improving
while that of the U. S. is weakening does not take full account of commu-
nist failures and is based on an over-simplified view of the contesting
forces in today's world.
-_ The Soviets are tempering ambitions to enhance their global
position with sober estimates of feasibility. There has been a shift
toward the view that it is possible to arrange with the United States some
sort of stabilization in Europe, the Middle East, the arms race and even
Asia.
-- In responding to its changed world position, the U. S. problem
is to find the best ways of combining restraint with the firmness required
by national security. Our military capability is undoubted. What the
Soviets, Chinese and our allies could come to doubt is U. S. willingness
to use its military capability.
-- There are strong rational reasons why great powers will be
more prudent about the exercise of power and accepting additional
commitments.
-- Because of the complexity of international relationships, a
loss of U. S. influence in one arena is not necessarily a gain for the
USSR, China, or some other competitor.
CONFIDENTIAL
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/21 : LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/21 : LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4
CONFIDENTIAL
-- Developments such as urbanization, anti -establishmentarianism,
ethnic and racial conflict, radical nationalism and technical change may
alter the world political order.
The CIA report will be given careful consideration in preparation of your
Annual Foreign Policy Review.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/21 : LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/21 : LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4
IF - 0
MEMORANDUM
SECRET February 6, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM WATTS
FROM: Al Haig
SUBJECT: CIA Assessment of the World Situation in 1970
Bill
Attached are Presidential comments on the CIA worldwide review. I
suspect we can answer #1, #2 and #3 by tasking Sonnenfeldt for #1 and
#2; Bergsten for #3.
Reference #4, I have tasked State and Agriculture to conduct a study
within the next 60 days to report on what population could be supported
worldwide if U. S. agricultural production methods were employed on
a worldwide basis.
The item under #2 referring to Radio Free Europe should be handled
by Sonnenfeldt in coordination with CIA. He may wish to discuss this
with me before proceeding since I can call Helms who generated the
problem in the first instance.
Attachment
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/21 : LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/21 : LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4
ENTIAi-
January 23, 1970
At Tab A is a memorandum to the
President, prepared by ion Howe,
forwarding CIA's report on the World
Situation in the 1970s.
At Tab B is a brief note of appreciation
to Helms.
Should we send the CIA document to
Bob Osgood for his use in working on
the Annual Review of Foreign Policy?
Yes
Attachments
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/21 : LOC-HAK-288-3-14-4