MEETING WITH PRESIDENT SANGOULE LAMIZANA (LAHMEEZAHNA) OF UPPER VOLTA MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1973 10:00 A.M. (30 MINUTES) THE OVAL OFFICE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-298-4-13-3
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
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• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2010
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1. PUI:PC)E
From: Henry A. Kissinger
A. Background
President Lamiza3:na came to the United States principally to
address the United Nations General Assembly October 9 re--
garding the effects of the drought in West and Central Africa
(sometimes referred to as the Sahel), He was mandated to do
so in a September summit meeting with his fellow Chiefs of
State whose nations are also affected - Mali, Senegal, Mauritania,
Niger and Chad. At that same meeting, Larnizana was requested
to contact friendly donor nations to discuss with them the situation
in the area. It is in this context that President Lamizana
asked to call an you.
President Lamizan.a's objective will be to give you a firsthand
report of the consequences of the prolonged drought and an es-
tirnate of future food needs and long-terns assistance requirements.
He will. wish to thank you for past US assistance (approximately
$47 million, mostly foodstuffs) and ask for continued assistance.
He will want: to report to you the results of the Chiefs of State
meeting in Ouagadougou, Upper Volta, September 10-1Z. At
that meeting, the si_x Heads of State adopted recovery and develop-
mnent: proposals which placed emphasis first on efforts to insure a
speedy recovery from the drought's effect by increasing next year's
harvest and secondly on seeking major financing for longer-term
projects.
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MEETING WITH PRESIDENT SANGOULE LAMIZANA (lahmeeZAH-Ina)
OF UPPER VOLTA
Monday, October 15, 1973
10:00 a. m. (30 minutes)
The Oval Office
To demonstrate our concern for the welfare of the states of West
and Central. Africa currently suffering a severe drought and our
desire, with others, to continue to assist in meeting the area's
immediate needs and fostering its rehabilitation.
11. BACKC'ROUND, PARTICIPANTS, and PRESS PLAN
DOS, NSS, reviews
completed.
Your special coordinator for the African drought,' Maurice
Williams, attended the meeting. In his subsequent report to
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CONFIDENTIAL
you (Tab A), Mr. Williams indicated that the donor representa-
tives at the meeting considered the program proposals of the
six Heads of State a positive statement of needs for planning and
possible action. However, there are strong reservations that
the necessary funds to carry out the area's ambitious plans
($1 billion) will be available.
OM13 Director Roy Ash should be sending to you momentarily a
recommendation that you forward to Congress a budget amendment
requesting an appropriation_ of $150 million for disaster relief for
Pakistan, Nicaragua and the Sahel. Should you wish to refer to
this in your conversation with President Lamizana an appropriate
talking point has been provided.
Since President Lamizana is meeting with you as a representative
of several states, it is not believed he will raise the subject of
US-Upper Volta relations. In fact, there are no major bilateral.
issues between us. Our political and economic interests there
are n'driiz- al. US assistance to Upper Volta is in a regional con-
text and has focused primarily on livestock improvement and
grain stabilization. We have a small but highly successful Peace
Corps operation there.
Upper Volta broke relations with Israel October 11 on the grounds
that it could no longer maintain, diplomatic relations with a country
which claims it intends to conduct a non-offensive policy but acts
differently. Nevertheless, we do not believe President Lazniza.n.a
will raise the Middle East crisis as he would not wish to digress
so far from the humanitarian nature of his mission. The. Arab
viewpoint prevails in the area, a predominantly Moslem region.
In view of the uncertainties surrounding the Middle East crisis,
it has become necessary to reexamine the schedule of Mrs. Nixon':
trj-to the drought area. While staff planning proceeds, the trip
has not been announced nor have we in.n.fora ed the hostt, overranicnts.
C:onsecItLee,tly, it is recommended that you not raise, the subject
with President Lamizana.
President Larriizana speaks French, but no English. He attended
your dinner in 1970 for visiting Chiefs of State in the United States
for the United Nations 25th Anniversary.
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CONFIDENTIAL
B. Participants:
Henry A. Kissinger.
A. Jose De Seabra, State. Department Interpreter.
C. Press Plan:
Press photo opportunity. The meeting has been announced.
Ron Ziegler's office will give a press briefing on the results
of the meeting.
III. TALKING POINTS
1. I would like to welcome you, to Washington once again. I recall
with pleasure meeting you at the White House Dinner in 1970
for the Chiefs of State visiting the United States on the occasion
of the United Nations Z5th. Anniversary.
Z. I appreciate that you have taken the opportunity of your address
to the United Nations General Assembly to come to Washington
to discuss the problems of drought that you and your five neigh-
bors are facing. This is a subject that concerns all American
and I would greatly appreciate your own assessment of the current
situation in the area and future needs.
[ In response President Lamizana will seek our help for
the projects list which emerged at the September summit
meeting of the six Heads of State, such as continued
emergency food for some locations, the provision of seed
and animal feed, the increase of village wells, national
development needs, such as dams and reconstitution of
herds, and, lastly, major regional projects such as dams,
better communications, reforestation and weather modifi-
cation. ]
3. 1 have, of course, followed developments, especially through
reports of Mr. Maurice Williams, nay Special Coordinator for
Drought Relief, and our views of the situation are similar to
your own.
Under Mr. Williams' direction, we are involved in studies to
determine `,,,hat our role will. be in the rehabilitation and the
longer-run programs. As you know, we have allocated 100, 000
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CONFIDENTIAL -4-
tons of grain assistance for the first three months of the
Fiscal Year 1974. We will continue this assistance and will
be consulting with you and others as to the level of need follow-
ing completion of the food and. crop assessment the Food and
Agricultural Organization has undertaken.
4. In any case, I want to assure you the United States will continue
to help, in conjunction with other donors, many of which have a
long-standing interest in the region that we respect.
5. [ If desired. ] I will be sending to the US Congress shortly a
special message requesting an emergency appropriation totalling
$] 50 million for disaster reliefor Pakistan, Nicaragua and the
Sahel. I hope that the response from Congress will be a positive
one.
6. [ If asked. ] Until Congress has acted on this proposal, we will
be unable to discuss what will be available for the Sahel.
(FYI - The budget amendment avoids earmarking specific
amounts for each of the three beneficiaries in order
to allow us to maintain m aximuin flexibility. )
7. In addition to the US Government assistance, the private effort
in the United States, which thus far amounts to $>~ fl ion, has
been heartwarming. This effort continues. Mrs. Nixon is Honorary
Chairman of a Desert Ball in Washington in. late November to raise
funds to assist in particular the women and.children of the area.
8. l agree that scientific and technological advances might speed up
solutions to some of the area's problems, but feel we must be
careful not to expect miracles. Rain-making, for example, has
not been the success many thought it would be, even in the United
States.
9. We are gratified to be a part of the international effort to assist
your recovery. As you know, we are interested in.the independence
and non-alignment of Africa and feel one tangible contribution we
can make to achieve these goals is in our assistance programs.
We also believe Africa needs concrete measures that have a real.
impact on its problems, such as the ones you are proposing for
the rehabilitation of the drought area.
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL -5-
10. [ If asked about the Middle East. ] The outbreak of hostilities
over a week ago is a matter of most serious concern to us.
We deplore that a costly war has again started and hope that
it will end soon and in such a way that it will allow the parties
to move toward a negotiated settlement.
11... If President Larriizai)a raises the issue of. river blindness. ]
We are very concerned about the economic and himz-manitarian.
aspects of river blindness. We expect to play a part in the
multilateral effort to control river blindness and foster more
rapid economic development in the region of the V oltan. basin.
(FYI - Onchocerciasis -- river blindness -- is endemic to
the Volta River Basin in West Africa. One million
persons in the area are estimated to be infected and
over 70, 000 are totally blind, or have serious ini.pair-
ment of sight. As a result, large tracts of fertile land
in the savannah area of the Basin cannot be opened to
development. President Laniizana places a high priority
on river blindness control. It is technically feasible
to control river blindness, and a 20-year control pro-
gram, costing $120 million, is planned by the UN and
the international donor comnmunity. )
Tab A -- Maurice Williams' second progress report to the President.
Tab B ?- Memo for the President from, theDonuty PP-rrc-t 2 rAr of State.
1
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CONFIDENTIAL,
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C)FFICE OF
THE ADMIIJIST1 ATOR
CEPARTMENT Or STATE
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
WASFUNGION
September 27, 1973
REPORT FOR rffJ PRESIDENT
SUBJ ]- G`I': Disaster Relief aznnnc-i Recovery Assistance
for Sahel Africa
My report to you of August 10 concluded:
that clonations of food front the U. S. and other donors
were adequate to meet overall immediate needs for survival. in the
drought and famine stricken areas of Africa,
that there were critical problems in the transport and
"'.ribu`a'.. o f f'o it peop't1 in some remote areas during the sixty
%A I days until locl~ 1,~~? r"r -
ests of food in October, -- that prompt. plsnning for lone er--ter rn recovery was
essential.
In response to your direction to assure the effectiveness of
relief efforts, I visited the four countries of Upper Volta, Mali,
Niger and Chacl during the critical period September 8 - 21. 1 satin,
firsthand the drought devastation and human to obl c 111.x, and observed
our relief efforts in action. I met with the Presidents and senior ~~
officials of these countries, as well as with the Presidents of Senegl
and 1\'iauur:ctazaia. In cl:i:;~u5 i.on~, with the leaders of all, six countries,
I sought to a550ss future, needs for emergency relief and for recovery.
My fir~dirl (1 re).i(f ol~c:~ 1t.ioz io)lo~
1. Thee devastation and dislocations of the drought have been
immense. These countz ies -- already among the Poorest . In the
world - - have experienced stag ger)n losses, in crops and l.iv(?'stoc'h
Great numbers of people ml g rated long distances in their (Ies1)c1,ai
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..2_ W
search for li.vcl.illoocl and food. Families are larly separated. Many
died alonf; the way from hunger a~ a4''ilel di.d,a~et xtc ac:hthem 1in
remote noinaa.dic commurlitzcs wh l
xc,
Otlaerstcancr destitute,
time. Some two xnilliola people have Tlcl ood left
without. mr.alnS of recovca?in.., their lip
more-quicl ly but Will need help to clo so. en a 2. Neverthele- widespread starvation vat n has o ben averted.
Relief food end xxaccl:i,cal supp],ac froa.1 oes
are xeaclainr; those for whom they were destined in the cities, villages,
and remote areas of ` ahe;l ~t-fr ica. WVithout our help, millions
would have died of : tarvation. Emiergen of assis ance from `Mate which th United source; has risen to about $154 mill
alone contributed over, $47 million. (Annex A details the U. S. relief
effort.)
r e ~z e5ent~Lti.ve, I received expressions of sincere
3. Asyotlr
gratitude for American ll.cl-p at. every level., from l~jc~;ielents to that
individual nona~.cl`;, They 1k_new, and oracle clear that they knew,
the United States Was out in front in the ti.l ac.l fl? ,"5s Mi Md fnit lc3c:trvca
of its help, and in ge tinge it to whe e it was needed. relief also was provided by the European Economic Community.
4. The Sahel countries will. continue rt need}h el p n urgent
basis for at least the conmaing year. While tJ cri October will. relieve some of the press 11.33- s ofzr cd:ctez `siS,e
crops will be well below nec.cls in mo
good, the availability of food for normal
harvc>t;; are rca,7ana.l.)ly marketing; will be a problem as farmers seek to rebuild reserves.
Several milli-on people are destitute and without means to purchase
food.
C, osed
'
i
Jlav`l
alax
aord
LOSS of i-ncol ae and e: try coca e etaain IhcSa1FCl
c
the budgets -of these str:'ickel) countries to a _
countries seek and need a cont5.nur-tio}ic~cne in relief. Year aft x' co>nplClion
the precise : cale of these needs for t
of a field as es7,3.rlc:nt, now a11ldlra'~~Ly with the 1''c)Dd and ar7.Cl,llttla?~'?1
Or ;ani.zation.
5. As relief operat.iolas continue, , it is i p` ytan,i that tl1cCi:c,;'ts
and those who set-k 1. _
Salae] coulatrics,
toward r ecovc r~ allca.Slires which % ,All rc.clu)uFlta e ncs :)1~or"'tlt.tur a e let
opcrati0m. '. he l)resid(mts of ills SaJael cc ~?7.1~.
a i pc c. lctic, l
objccti.vC .tncl tvcJ.coialc d our illltlat.av ~ cc cc 11 v 1~i "'Ill u
Task J?oa-(- C to 1,11c, Ire'a to help desi f=,
a co e tvi.th c1.1.'ou ;lat. >'~l,titcci prol)lc:nas and kctllaritccl in ni.nclai ac7rl~
to ]
Produc ll'e
tion from the next. crop, ~v],ir,1F ttill i
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G. Nutritional ir:?obleiZs, l:)articular].y for women and
children, are a growing concern. U. S. epidci.niologists from the
Center for Disease Control have helped identify pockets of distress.
In response we are supplying medicines, vitamins, blankets, shelter
and specially fortified foods for those camps. More needs to be done
to meet the minimum nutritional needs of women and children, and
we are bringing this need to the attention of l.T. S. private voluntary
agencies.
Increasing public concern in the United States, especially
from the I3lach conmmunity, has been aroused by the plight of these
people and their struggle to survive.
PUSH (People United to Save lluixianity) waged a nation-wide
campaign for food and medical donations, which with the help of
A. I. D. are being transported to the_ Sahel. Africare, a promising
new organization has undertaken, a public fund raising car,npaign.
Other Black organizations helping include: the National Office of
Black Catholics, Congress of African People, National Welfare
Rights Organization and the African Studies Association,
A wide range of other voluntary agencies -- including
Church World Service, Catholic Relief Service and American Red
Cross --- also are actively engaged.
Recovery and Development Needs: Even \vitbout a oil ought,
the development problems of the countries of the Sahel are formidable.
There is a delicate balance between the capacity of the land and the,
needs of farmers and herders. The drought has tilted this balance
drastically --r transforming a precarious situation into a calamity
which has left deep scars. -
Water resources have been depleted. Mange lands have
been severely overgrazed and may require years to recover. In
a broad sen e, the, drought speeded up an already deter. iorating
ecological situation. which must be reversed if the saune hh;ind of
calamity is not to reoccur,
The Governments of the r egi.on have recognized the need
to cooperate in recovery and devel.oprrlent programs which seek to
overcome the basic problenis of the region. To meet this need
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they established the Interstate Committee of the six governments
which met in Upper Volta September 8 12. I attended this meeting
as your special representative.
Major decision,,, taken by the six heads of state include:
--- declaration that the Sahel was a continuing nuing disaster
situation which w ould require the continued help of the international
donor con]r1111nity.
designation of President Larnizana of Upper Volta to
present the Sallel's drought prob)-ermis to the United Nations General
As s embly.
-- adoption of recovery and development proposals, -which
placed emphasis first on efforts to ensure speedy recovery from
the drought's effect by increasing not year's liar vest; and, second,
on seeking major financing of longer term projects.
Donor representatives at the meeting considered the
l7$.'Orram pr ol]osal a pO5ita.ti stcatement of needs by t11u. 1c&hc .t.
Governments for planning and possible action. Under Secretary
13radford Morse r eaffirmm:.)ed the desire of the United N: tio;-, to
work in a coon di-na tecl way in meeting needs. The World 13'ank w=,wi.)l
make available special, flexible credits. Other major donors --
including the French, Germans, Canadians, and European Economic
Community -~' also offered to hell.). .
I indicated U. S. will)-ngness to help with both technical and,
material resources, in meetin ; the r. egion's needs. In particular,
I pledged that the United States would engage its best scicntii'i.e
capacities to work with the Sahel Governments on their water and
arid land problems.
1tolc of 1-his ar c.h and `lci.e"CC for 11lttlr: e Develot?l.x)cnt:
z e cc}r )li;-,c
The African countries, and the international community,
that. the problon)s of the Sahel require new approaches to devel.op;l)ccitt
if the region. is to become self- sustaining. and avoid future di as crs.
In particular, it is nc. c:?cssary to approa.tch the rehabilitation of the
area with careful attention to prof cet.ing the natural resources of
land and water which are crucial to developnent over the long
term.
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We have initiated special investigations of the
development potentials of this region by engaging:
-- NASA to explore the use of such advanced technology
as the Earth Resources Technology Satellite arid Sky Lab to
analyze from photo.? the Cropping and water resource potential;
--- Massachusetts In stitute of Technology to analyze
major development bptions'-for this region;
the n7ationa1 Academy of Sciences to provide. Scientific
advisory sezriccs covering a spectrum of disciplines during the
recovery period.
We can be proud of the role played by the United States,
and the rest of the donor Comuilty, in helping the strick en
states of the Sa el meet their most urgent nerds. Recognizing
that the, disaster crisis will continue for at least another year,
we, and other donors, are continuing to coop: rate with the
drought affected nations, in the longer-tern. rehabilitation and
recovery effort. Much has been done to help but much remains
to be done.
Maurice ff. \Villiaxns
President's Special Coordinator
for. lamer. zency Relief to
Sub--Sahara Africa
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SAl1EL D1 OtIGTT'1' ASSISTANCE
United States Government Assistance
1.
Total Assistance
~]+'ood Assi Lance (256, 000 tons of cereals)
$ 40, 81.8, 000
Other Emergency Assistance
6,447,000
Total
000
47
265
,
,
II. Assistance by T cceiving Country
A.
CHAD
l{'ood Assistance, 8, 000 tons of cereals
1, 416, 000
One month C-130 airlift plus m.a terisis
for food air drops
172, 200
Seeds, livestock feeding and emergency
agricultural materials
110, 000
Total for Chad
1, 698, 200
13. MALI
lf'ood Assistance, 55, 000 tons of cereals
$ 8,438, 000
A,? i,h cam'' _
.[x1. 11.LL lJY 6)11. C, e I ) t, 1:.) Ar o Si) 1JJ VJ1l.J.J
Medicines, blsnkels, tenting mater. ials
of and related needs of nomad refugee camps
219, 900
Other emergency needs
56, 000
11, 872, 900
C.
MA-LM I TANTA.
Food Assistance, 33, 000 tons of cereals
$ 5, 035, 000
Airlift by one C-130 to start October I
100, c)00
Ocher transport costs
300, 000
Medicines and related material for nomad
group's
77, 225
Provision of materials for water development
1.25, 000
Total. for Maur5tall i'a 5, 637, 225
D.
NICER
Food Assistance, GI, 000 ions of cereals
$10,672,000
Livestoctc,feed and vatccin.es
505, 000
]1.ledicines and special foods
28, 000
Support to l?,c'lgi.ana airdrop
15, 000
i 1P'icultural il) 1)rovementS
131, 000
Total for Niger
11, 351, 000
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B. SENEGAL
Food Assistance, 45, 000 tons of cereals $5, 328, 000
Livestock feed and vaccines 244, 4(,11
Other emergency prograin.s 75,000
Total for Senegal $5, 64.7, 491
F. UPPER VOLTA
Food Assistance, 35, 000 tons of cereals $6,094,000
Livestock feed and vaccines 2 81, 000
Field Hospital (complete) and med:i.cines 16, 650
Special transport of grains 40, 000
Well deepening pr ograzn 60, 000
Total for Upper Volta $6,491.,650
RT'(^T!-)NnT: A'NN-fT) OTHER
Other and Unal=located food a ~si.sfaance, 19, 000 tons $3,835,000
Regional programs, Support to U? S. voluntary
agency prof,-rams, special survey teams,
support of international agencies and other
regional emergency programs
Total Regional and Other $4,566,534
Grand Total all U. S. Prog'ams $47,265,000
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 A fill VACHIVEI -l' B
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SA.IlEL, DROUCTI'r ASSISTANCE
Total International. Contr i.l. ut"i.oris
1. 'Major FC)Od Contributions
United States
256,
000 Tons cereals
$7
40,81-8,000
1. /
European Economic Community
111,
000 Tons cereals
11, 100, 000
2/
France
78,
000 Tons cereals
7,800,000
2 /
~
Canada
26,
000 'T'olls cereals
2, 600, 000
2 /
Germany
36,
000 Tons cereals
3, (300, 000
2/
China
0.5,
000 To ms cer. eal.
9,500, 000
2 /
) /
Russia
22,
000 Tons cereals
2,200,000
2/
l
Other donors and concessi.ona
imports
100, 000 Tons cereals
10,000,000
2/
IE.stimuated value of contributions
of foods by various bilateral and
international donors: dried milk,
.
CSTd, etc.
3,000,000
Total. Food Contributions omd Imports
$ 90,
61.8,
000
Total Quantity Food Contributions and imports
72:,
000 MT
1/ Value of food plus ocean freight plus inland transport
2/ Estimated market value
3/ Includes 45, 000 'MT contributed through Chinese Iced Cross
I.I.
-Major Other Expenditures for DisasterRelief Purposes
United States
$ 6,
147,
000*
European Economic Community
22,
000,
000
Nigeria
3,
750,
000
Zaire
110,
000
United Nations (3ahel Zone Trust Fund)
8,290,000
Kuwait
300, 000
Liby a
760, 000
Total Cash Contributions
$ X1,357,000
Excludes .$300, 000 U. S. contribution to Sahel Trust Fund.
III. Vzti-ions Contribution; in l>irid
Belg i.um
Canada
France
Fedora]
Libya
Spain
Airlift and financing of ground sups.-port
Airlift and i?; e].] drilli.r~g prof r, ants
-- Airlift and support of country budgets
Tlepublic of Germany - Airlift and ground support
United Kingdom
USSR
Other
- Airlift
-- Airlift and ground transport
Airlift -
Airlift
South Korea, 'l.'ai an, USSR, and several other countries
have made grants up to $50, 000 each to Upper Volta.
Estimated total contributions in kind: $ 22,000,000
000
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W W 7318886
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE ~
October 12, 1973
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
Subject: Office Call by President Lamizana
of Upper Volta
You have agreed to receive President Sangoule
Lamizana of Upper Volta for an office call on October 15
at 10:00. He is visiting the United States principally
to address the United Nations General Assembly regarding
the effects of the drought in west and central Africa,
on behalf of five of his fellow Chiefs of State whose
nations were also harshly affected -- Mali, Senegal,
Mauritania, Niger and Chad. The region is referred to
as the Sahel.
La.mizana, 58, a Lieutenant General, became President
in a bloodless coup in 1966. He is a highly regarded
professional soldier and a veteran of 27 years in the
French Army. A quiet, solid, vigorous man, he has grown
in personal stature and gained increasing confidence
in managing the affairs of his desperately poor country.
Upper Volta, with a population of over six million, has
a GNP of about $60 per capita. Its resources are limited
and largely agricultural with a restrained export trade
in peanuts and cotton. Its central location in the
Sahel ecological zone, and Lamizana's good reputation
led to the.. selection of Ouagadougou as the seat of a
permanent interst:.azte committee to coordinate the regional
aspects of drought relief and. rehabilitation follow-up.
Ile was reelected the committee's President in the September
meeting.
Larnizana attended your dinner in 1970 for visiting
Chiefs of State who came for the United Nations' twenty-
fifth anniversary.
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Lamizana's objective is to make better known to the
world the consequences of the prolonged drought and
draw attention to the range of assistance activities
for which the stricken countries are seeking outside
support. During the meeting in Ouagadougou, September
10-12, he and the other Chiefs of State approved a list
of rehabilitation projects totaling nearly $975 million,
including dams, other water control measures, range
control, reconstitution of animal herds, improved crop
storage facilities and similar needs. The Sahel Chiefs
of State also agreed to seek a moratorium on external
debt repayment (insignificant for the US) and to seek
special consideration for their problems in the forth-
coming negotiations for the renewal of the association
agreement with the Common Market.
Lamizana is not expected to raise the Arab-Israeli
war. He would not wish to digress so far from the
humanitarian nature of his mission. The Arab view-
point prevails in the Sahel, a predominantly muslim
region. While the Israelis still have an Embassy in
Ouagadougou, Lamizana's capital," they have been expelled
in recent months from Chad, Niger and Mali and their
presence in Senegal is tenuous. Moreover, Egypt is a
member of the African continent's political body, the
Organization of African Unity.
Our objective is to demonstrate our sympathy for
the suffering of the peoples of the Sahel, to note our
extensive role thus far in providing emergency assistance
($47 million) and stimulating others to do so, and to
indicate our willingness to help in the continuing relief
and rehabilitation efforts wha:,.gh ie ahead.
Attachments:
1. issues and Talking Points
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Since this memorandum was drafted, Upper Volta has broken
relations with Israel.
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BRIEF= ING PAPER
ISSUES AND TALKING POINTS
CALL BY PRESIDENT LAMIZANA
October 15, 1973, 10:00 a.m.
-- There are no issues in contention between the
US and Lamizana and his fellow Sahel Chiefs
of State with respect to the drought question.
They are aware of our major assistance effort
and are grateful.
-- However, reconstruction and longer range needs
as conceived by the Sahel states are great --
well beyond any likelihood of fulfillment by
external donors. Lamizana may feel obliged
to ask for major rehabilitation assistance,
while your reply must be guarded since funding
availabilities are not certain.
Points Lamizana right Make
-- Thank you and the American people for your
generous and crucial assistance for the
drought victims.
--- Recall his attendance at your dinner in 1970
for Chiefs of State who came for the U-N's
25th anniversary, and his great pleasure at
meeting Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower who was also
present. (Lamizana served with French troops
under General Eisenhower in World War II.)
Refer to the mandate given him by his fellow
Chiefs of State at the meeting in September in
Ouagadougou and to his address to the General
Assembly on October 9 to draw world attention
to the consequences of the drought and the
vast needs of the area in restoring its
economic base.
-- Note that at the Ouagadougou meeting the Sahel
region was declared to be a continuing disaster
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and consequently the interstate committee of
which he was reelected head should continue
its coordinating role.
Note his responsibility to attempt to obtain
special favorable development treatment for
the Sahel in the next agreement between the
Common 1.4arket and the associated states of
Africa. A related measure is the appeal for
a moratorium of ten years of the external debt
of the stricken :Mates, since their major
resource base -- the land and herds - has been
deeply harmed.
Refer to, and seek our help for a projects
list which emerged at the September meeting,
divided into: emergency needs such as continued
feeding in some locations, seed, animal feed,
and village wells; national development needs
such as dams, ponds, and reconstitution of
herds; and lastly regional projects involving
more than one member nation such as large dams,
better road and telecommunication links, re-
forestation, and weather modification.
Note the particular hope which he and his
fellow presidents place in the scientific and
technological capabilities which the US might
possess to help with long run solutions to the
ecological imbalance created by the encroaching
Sahara, as illustrated by our satellite imagery
and Skylab photos - the Skylab II crew took
pictures of the Sahel.
points which You might Flake
--- Welcome Lamizana to Washington and recall
your meeting at your dinner in 1970.
-- Assure him of the widespread sympathy in the
US for the victims of the drought -- a deep
sympathy found in all levels of US society,
in the Congress, and in the Administration.
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Refer to the US emergency provision of food
grains valued thus far at $40 million (delivered
value) and non-food aid such as transportation,
animal feed, medicines, etc., valued at $6.7
million. Recall that our US Air Force C-130's
have been especially effective in airlifts in
Chad, Mali, and soon in Mauritania. Indicate
that you have followed developments through
reports from Mr. Maurice Williams whom you
designated your special Coordinator for Drought
Relief. (Mr. Williams attended the September
meeting in Ouagadougou.)
Refer to our ongoing, and intensifying, ac-
tivity to establish food needs in the future
and determine what our role will be in the
rehabilitation and longer-run programs. Note
that we expect that funding will be available
to us to play our part, to be coordinated with
the efforts of the other friendly powers, par-
ticularly the Common Market and France. Stress
that they hold a long-standing interest in the
region which we respect.
-- Express particular sympathy for the women and
children. They suffered the most of all of
the drought's casualties. We are making special
efforts to respond to their medical and nutri-
tional needs as we find them in refugee camps.
Note that Mrs. Nixon will be the Honorary Chair-
woman of a special benefit for the women and
children victims.
Agree that scientific and technological advances
might speed up solutions to some of the area's
problems, but caution against the expectation of
miracles. Rainmaking, for example, has not been
the success which many thought it would be, even
in the US.
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