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    "label": "Sri Lanka - Prime Minister Bandaranaike",
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    "title": "Sri Lanka - Prime Minister Bandaranaike",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1555855",
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        "Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders"
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    "subjects": [
        "Sri Lanka",
        "Foreign aid"
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        "logicalDate": "1976-04-30",
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        "year": 1976
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        "logicalDate": "1975-04-01",
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        "year": 1975
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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 4, folder \"Sri Lanka - Prime Minister\nBandaranaike\" of the National Security Adviser's Presidential Correspondence with\nForeign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nNSC REFERRAL TO STATE SECRETARIAT\nDate: April 21 1975\n1A\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nGEORGE SPRINGSTEEN\nNSC LOG 750225 3\nEXECUTIVE SECRETARY\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nDOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:\nTO: Sirimavo Bandaranaike\nFROM: President\nDATE: April 21 1975\nSUBJECT: Thank you 1tr\nACTION REQUESTED:\nDRAFT REPLY FOR:\nPRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE\nWHITE HOUSE STAFF SIGNATURE\nOTHER\nDIRECT REPLY\nFURNISH INFO COPY\nXXX DISPATCH\nRECOMMENDATIONS/COMMENTS\nTRANSLATION\nAPPROPRIATE HANDLING\nINFORMATION\nFOR ADDITIONAL PROCESSING AS INDICATED:\nDUE DATE:\nURGENT\nROUTINE\nCOMMENTS:\nfor JEANNE W. DAVIS\nStaff Secretary\nCLASSIFICATION\nDigitized from Box 4 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nI\n1B\nNSC/S\nSend green to\nState for\npouching\nFORE\nGERALD\n2253\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20506\nURGENT VIA LDX\nApril 21, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR\nGEORGE SPRINGSTEEN\nExecutive Secretary\nDepartment of State\nSUBJECT: Presidential Letter to Prime Minister Bandaranaike\nof Sri Lanka -- S/S 7507094\nAs recommended in S/S 7507094, the President has signed a letter\nto Prime Minister Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. State should telegram\nthe text of the President's letter (copy attached) to our Embassy in\nColombo on an urgent basis (NIACT Immediate) since Secretary\nSimon is in Sri Lanka and -- as State has recommended -- may still\nbe able to personally deliver the message.\nThe signed original will be forwarded separately for pouching.\nJeanne W. Davis\nStaff Secretary\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nApril 21, 1975\nDear Madame Prime Minister:\nThank you for your very thoughtful letters of\nMarch 21 and March 24. I am pleased that our\nGovernment has been able to assist the people\nof Sri Lanka through the provision of economic\nand food assistance. I assure you that my\nAdministration will do all it can to see that our\nrelationship remains cordial. Americans feel\na special kinship for Sri Lanka because of our\nshared democratic political traditions.\nI read with great interest your observations on\nthe drought in Sri Lanka and the rising cost of\nimported commodities. I'am pleased that our\neconomic and food assistance was helpful.\nAlthough budget and other uncertainties pre-\ncluded our making a specific pledge at the\nrecent Aid Group meeting in Paris, I assure you\nthat within our financial and supply limitations\nwe intend to continue to support Sri Lanka's\nefforts to deal with its economic problems. We\nhave been impressed by the steps you have taken\nto move your nation toward self-sufficiency in\nbasic foodstuffs. We share your hope that this\ngoal can become a reality in the near future.\nI want to take this opportunity to express my\npersonal pleasure that Secretary of the\nTreasury Simon is able to visit Sri Lanka on\nhis current trip. He carries with him my\npersonal best wishes and my hopes for the\ncontinued friendship between our Governments\nand our peoples.\nWith warm best wishes,\nSincerely,\nGerard R.\nHer Excellency\nSirimavo Bandaranaike\nPrime Minister of the\nRepublic of Sri Lanka\nColombo\n2253\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nApril 21\nFOR JEANNE DAVIS\nJeanne,\nThe Presidential letter to Prime Minister\nBandaranaike is finally signed and came\nt hrough this morning. State would still\nlike to have the text on the wires soonest\nsince Secretary Simon will be in Sri Lanka\nthrough tomorrow.\nI suggest the attached memo be LDXed to\nState immediately.\nBob Avon Oailey\n-\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\n4/21\nTo NSC/S\nFor close-out\nwith file\non 2253.\nLDX was SenT.\nRosemacy\n2253\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20506\nURGENT VIA LDX\nApril 21, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR\nGEORGE SPRINGSTEEN\nExecutive Secretary\nDepartment of State\nSUBJECT:\nPresidential Letter to Prime Minister Bandaranaike\nof Sri Lanka -- S/S 7507094\nAs recommended in S/S 7507094, the President has signed a letter\nto Prime Minister Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. State should telegram\nthe text of the President's letter (copy attached) to our Embassy in\nColombo on an urgent basis (NIACT Immediate) since Secretary\nSimon is in Sri Lanka and -- as State has recommended -- may still\nbe able to personally deliver the message.\nThe signed original will be forwarded separately for pouching.\nStaff ms.\nJeanne Davis\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nApril 21, 1975\nDear Madame Prime Minister:\nThank you for your very thoughtful letters of\nMarch 21 and March 24. I am pleased that our\nGovernment has been able to assist the people\nof Sri Lanka through the provision of economic\nand food assistance. I assure you that my\nAdministration will do all it can to see that our\nrelationship remains cordial. Americans feel\na special kinship for Sri Lanka because of our\nshared democratic political traditions.\nI read with great interest your observations on\nthe drought in Sri Lanka and the rising cost of\nimported commodities.' I am pleased that our\neconomic and food assistance was helpful.\nAlthough budget and other uncertainties pre-\ncluded our making a specific pledge at the\nrecent Aid Group meeting in Paris, I assure you\nthat within our financial and supply limitations\nwe intend to continue to support Sri Lanka's\nefforts to deal with its economic problems. We\nhave been impressed by the steps you have taken\nto move your nation toward self-sufficiency in\nbasic foodstuffs. We share your hope that this\ngoal can become a reality in the near future.\nI want to take this opportunity to express my\npersonal pleasure that Secretary of the\nTreasury Simon is able to visit Sri Lanka on\nhis current trip. He carries with him my\npersonal best wishes and my hopes for the\ncontinued friendship between our Governments\nand our peoples.\nWith warm best wishes,\nSincerely,\nHer Excellency\nSirimavo Bandaranaike\nPrime Minister of the\nRepublic of Sri Lanka\nColombo\nTHE WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM\nTIME SENT:\nWHITE HOUSE\nRECEIVED:\nSH 1.4 in ROOM\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\n*75 APR 21 AM 10: 56\n1975 APR 21 AM 11 03\nLOX NR 343 PAGES 3\nW\nDIA/G\nDESCRIPTION/COMMENT\nCIA\nSTATE\nDIA/H\nNNCC\nTREAS\nANMCC\nNPIC\nNSA\nFROM: Rosempry))\nTO: Garge Springsteen\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nACTION\nWASHINGTON\n2253\nApril 19, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHENRY A. KISSINGER\nSUBJECT:\nLetters to You from Prime Minister\nBandaranaike of Sri Lanka\nMrs. Bandaranaike has written you two letters regarding US assistance\nfor Sri Lanka. In the letter at Tab C, the Prime Minister expresses her\ndeep appreciation for US food assistance under PL 480 this fiscal year.\nAs it turned out, we were able to be more generous this year than in the\npast in dollar terms. Our $25 million commitment was almost three\ntimes the amount expected by Sri Lanka at a time when that country's\nfood problems have increased. Our food aid has always been taken as\nan expression of US interest in this small nation and Mrs. Bandaranaike\nsees this increase as an important contribution to the marked improve-\nment in our relations, which she has helped to foster.\nMrs. Bandaranaike followed up with the letter at Tab B in connection\nwith the annual World Bank Aid Group meeting on April 9, urging that\nthe US make a generous pledge at that meeting for Sri Lanka. Mrs.\nBandaranaike writes a similar letter every year at this time. We are\nplanning to provide Sri Lanka a development loan of approximately\n$8 million the same as last year -- and roughly the same amount of\nfood aid. However, we did not announce this proposed pledge in Paris in\norder to encourage Sri Lanka to look primarily to its own domestic resources\nas the primary ingredient to its development program. The World Bank\nalso feels that Sri Lanka needs to be encouraged to take further measures\nto increase savings and investment.\nMrs. Bandaranaike greatly values her personal ties with foreign leaders,\nand her 1971 White House visit was an important factor in motivating her\nto work toward improving our bilateral relations. Mrs. Bandaranaike's\npro-US views represent a marked reversal of an earlier trend in her\ncountry's policies and her own thinking.\n- 2 -\nAt Tab A is a suggested letter of reply expressing appreciation for\nher letters and understanding of Sir Lanka's problems. It does not\nspecify aid levels but notes that the US will be as sympathetic as\npossible within the limits of our resources.\nIn the course of his current trip to the Soviet Union and South Asia,\nSecretary Simon will visit Sri Lanka April 21-22 -- the first high level\nU.S. official in some time. It would be a nice gesture if the Secretary\ncould personally deliver your reply to the Prime Minister at that time.\nRECOMMENDATION: That you sign the proposed letter to Prime\nMinister Bandaranaike at Tab A. [Paul Theis has cleared the text. ]\nAPPROVE\nDISAPPROVE\nRetype - 4/18/75\nGen. Scowcroft/feb\nACTION\n2253\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHENRY A. KISSINGER\nSUBJECT:\nLetters to You from Prime Minister\nBandaranaike of Sri Lanka\nMrs. Bandaranaike has written you two letters regarding US assistance\nfor Sri Lanka. In the letter at Tab C, the Prime Minister expresses her\ndeep appreciation for US food assistance under PL 480 this fiscal year.\nAs it turned out, we were able to be more generous this year than in the\npast in dollar terms. Our $25 million commitment was almost three\ntimes the amount expected by Sri Lanka at a time when that country's\nfood problems have increased. Our food aid has always been taken as\nan expression of US interest in this small nation and Mrs. Bandaranaike\nsees this increase as an important contribution to the marked improve-\nment in our relations, which she has helped to foster.\nMrs. Bandaranaike followed up with the letter at Tab B in connection\nwith the annual World Bank Aid Group meeting on April 9, urging that\nthe US make a generous pledge at that meeting for Sri Lanka. Mrs.\nBandaranaike writes a similar letter every year at this time. We are\nplanning to provide Sri Lanka a development loan of approximately\n$8 million -- the same as last year -- and roughly the same amount of\nfood aid. However, we did not announce this proposed pledge in Paris in\norder to encourage Sri Lanka to look primarily to its own domestic resources\nas the primary ingredient to its development program. The World Bank\nalso feels that Sri Lanka needs to be encouraged to take further measures\nto increase savings and investment.\nMrs. Bandaranaike greatly values her personal ties with foreign leaders,\nand her 1971 White House visit was an important factor in motivating her\nto work toward improving our bilateral relations. Mrs. Bandaranaike's\npro-US views represent a marked reversal of an earlier trend in her\ncountry's polities and her own thinking.\nTOHD\n&\nGERALD\n- 2 -\nAt Tab A is a suggested letter of reply expressing appreciation for\nher letters and understanding of Sir Lanka's problems. It does not\nspecify aid levels but notes that the US will be as sympathetic as\npossible within the limits of our resources.\nIn the course of his current trip to the Soviet Union and South Asia,\nSecretary Simon will visit Sri Lanka April 21-22 -- the first high level\nU.S. official in some time. It would be a nice gesture if the Secretary\ncould personally deliver your reply to the Prime Minister at that time.\nRECOMMENDATION: That you sign the proposed letter to Prime\nMinister Bandaranaike at Tab A. [Paul Theis has cleared the text.]\nAPPROVE\nDISAPPROVE\nFORD\n&\nBERALD\nLIBRARY\nRetype - 4/18/75\nGen. Scowcroft/feb\nACTION\n2253\nDear Madame Prime Minister:\nThank you for your very thoughtful letters of\nMarch 21 and March 24. I am pleased that our\nGovernment has been able to assist the people\nof Sri Lanka through the prevision of economic\nand food assistance. I assure you that my\nAdministration will do all it can to see that our\nrelationship remains cordial. Americans feel\na special kinship for Sri Lanka because of our\nshared democratic political traditions.\nI read with great interest your observations on\nthe drought in Sri Lanka and the rising cost of\nimported commodities. I am pleased that our\neconomic and food assistance was helpful.\nAlthough budget and other uncertainties pre-\ncluded our making a specific pledge at the\nrecent Aid Group meeting in Paris, I assure you\nthat within our financial and supply limitations\nwe intend to continue to support Sri Lanka's\nefforts to deal with its economic problems. We\nhave been impressed by the steps you have taken\nto move your nation toward self-sufficiency in\nbasic foodstuffs. We share your hope that this\ngoal can become a reality in the near future.\nFORD\n?\nGERALD\nLISAARY\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nACTION\n2253\nApril 14, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR: SECRETARY KISSINGER\nFROM:\nROBERT B. OAKLEY\nSUBJECT:\nPresidential Reply to the Annual Assistance\nLetter from Prime Minister Bandaranaike\nof Sri Lanka\nMrs. Bandaranaike has written the President two letters regarding\nUS assistance to Sri Lanka. The first is a thank-you letter for\nUS food assistance in FY 75. The second is her annual letter in\nsupport of a US pledge at the spring World Bank Aid Group meeting.\nAttached at Tab I is a memo you could forward the President seeking\nhis signature on a suggested reply to Mrs. Bandaranaike. If signed\nin time, Secretary Simon could deliver the text of the message\npersonally to Mrs. Bandaranaike when he visits Sri Lanka April 21-22.\nRECOMMENDATION: That you forward the memorandum at Tab I\nto the President recommending his signature on a letter of reply to\nMrs. Bandaranaike [Paul Theis concurs in the text. ]. If possible,\nthis should be done expeditiously so that Secretary Simon could deliver\nthe reply as State recommends (attached).\nAPPROVE\nB\nDISAPPROVE\n7507094\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\n2253\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nApril 10, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR LIEUTENANT GENERAL BRENT SCOWCROFT\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSubject: Prime Minister Bandaranaike's\nLetters on U.S. Aid\nSecretary Simon is visiting Sri Lanka April 21-22\nand we hope he can present the attached letter from the\nPresident when he meets Prime Minister Bandaranaike.\nThe letter answers Mrs. Bandaranaike's messages of\nMarch 21 and 24 in which she expresses thanks for U.S.\naid and requests a substantial U.S. aid pledge for FY\n76 at the Paris Aid Group Meeting on April 9.\nWe have drafted a warm letter stressing continued\nU.S. friendship and the President's interest in good\nrelations with Sri Lanka. Mrs. Bandaranaike values her\npersonal ties with foreign leaders and she felt that\nher 1971 meeting with President Nixon was an important\nfactor in improved U.S. relations with Sri Lanka. We\nthink the proposed letter from the President will help\nto establish similar rapport.\nThe U.S. position at the Paris Aid Group April 9\nMeeting is only partially responsive to Prime Minister\nBandaranaike's request for a substantial U.S. pledge\nof assistance in FY 76. We are planning to provide a\ndevelopment loan of approximately $8 million, and\napproximately 100,000 tons ($18.4 million) of Title I\nPL 480 wheat flour, but we are not specifically pledging\nthis aid at Paris. Our decision not to make a specific\npledge is based on budget uncertainties but also is\ndesigned to encourage the Ceylonese to focus greater\nattention on efforts to stimulate domestic food pro-\nduction.\nThe Department would appreciate expeditious\nprocessing so that we can forward the text of the\nPresident's reply by pouch or cable in ime for delivery\nApril 21.\nGeorge S. Springsteen\nExecutive Secretary\nAttachments:\n1. Proposed letter from the President\n2. Prime Minister Bandaranaike's letter of March 24\n3. Prime Minister Bandaranaike's letter of March 21\nPrime Minister\nSri Lanka\nMarch 24 , 1975\nExcellency,\nI am writing to you in connection with the Sri\nLanka Aid-Group Meeting to be held on the 9th of April, 1975.\nThe World Bank has recently reviewed the current\neconomic situation in Sri Lanka. Their report, identifying\nthe problems and the immediate needs of Sri Lanka's economy,\nhas been circulated among countries of the Aid-Group.\nAs the World Bank reports indicate, our efforts to\nsteer the economy of Sri Lanka on a path of rapid development\nconsistent with our objectives of social justice, have been\noverwhelmed by factors beyond our control. The terms of trade\nhave deteriorated alarmingly during the last few years. World\nmarket prices of our essential imports like food, fertilizer\nand oil have reached almost prohibitive levels. Unfavourable\nweather conditions in Sri Lanka have retarded agricultural\nproduction. Sri Lanka thus continues to require external\neconomic assistance to sustain her economy and to support her\neconomic development effort.\nI am grateful for the generous assistance extended\nby your Government to Sri Lanka in the past. In view of the\ncontinuing need of Sri Lanka for additional foreign resources,\nI would appreciate it greatly if your Government would find it\npossible to make a pledge of substantial assistance at the\nforthcoming meeting of the Aid-Group.\nWith assurances of my highest consideration.\n(Sirima R.D. Bandaranaike)\nPRIME MINISTER\nHis Excellency Mr Gerald Ford,\nPresident of the United States of America,\nWASHINGTON\nPrime Minister\nSri Lanka\nColombo, 21st March, 1975.\nMy dear President,\nI have heard from your Ambassador in\nSri Lanka as well as from our Ambassador in\nWashington that the United States Government\nhas decided to allocate a sum of U.S. Dollars\n24.5 million to Sri Lanka for the purchase of\napproximately 100,000 metric tons of wheat flour\nunder PL 480.\nI am writing to you to convey my\npersonal appreciation and thanks as well as\nthat of my Government for this important as\nwell as timely gesture.\nAs you are aware Sri Lanka has been\nbuffeted in recent years by the high prices of\ncommodities which she imports, including food\ncommodities, and has also been unfortunate to\nhave had the experience of facing upto several\nyears of partial drought within the last 5 years\nthus affecting considerably our capacity to feed\nourselves adequately. We are at the moment\nfacing one of the worst droughts in our recent\nhistory which has seriously affected the\ntraditional rice growing areas of the country.\nWe, therefore, expect a considerable reduction\nin our rice crop this year thus compounding our\ndifficulties and placing an almost intolerable\nburden on our foreign exchange resources which\nhave to be deployed to import more food. It is\nin this context that the decision of your\nGovernment has come as a welcome measure of\nrelief to Sri Lanka.\nWe are also grateful for the assistance\nthat the Government of the United States of\nAmerica has given us in the matter of fertilizer\nin recent times. We are encouraged by this\nsupport to press on even more diligently to make\nourselves self-sufficient in our basic food\ncommodities, and I myself have taken the initiative\nto attend to this task inspite of the many set\nbacks we have been receiving.\nWe look forward to the continued support\nof the United States of America in the task of\ndevelopment and reconstruction that we have\nundertaken in order to provide a better and happier\nlife for our people.\nMay I once again thank you most sincerely,\nWith kind regards,\nYours sincerely,\nPRIME MINISTER.\nHis Excellency Mr. Gerald Ford,\nPresident of the United States of America,\nWASHINGTON.\n1R\nDOC\nRECD\nLOG NBR\nINITIAL ACTION o\nCORRESPONDENCE PROFILE\nMO\nDA\nMO\nDA\nHR,\n410\n4\n1019\n7502253\nCIRCLE Oshlay AS APPROPRIATE\nTO: PRES\nFROM: KISSINGER, H\nS/S 7507094 REFERENCE:\nUNCLAS\nLOG IN/OUT\nKISSINGER\nCOLBY, W\nOTHER\nLOU\nNO FORN\nSOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIPTION\nNODIS\nSCOWCROFT\nX\nSCHLESINGER, J\nC\nEYES ONLY EXDIS\nDAVIS\nST EX SEC\nX\nS\nCODEWORD\nTS\nSENSITIVE\nSUBJECT: fres reply to LTRS for PM Bandaronaike of\nSir Lanka re US and & form anstance\nINTERNAL ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION\nREC\nACTION REQUIRED\nACTION\nINFO\nCY\nADVANCE CYS TO HAK/SCOWCROFT\nFOR\nMEMO FOR HAK\n(\n)\nSTAFF SECRETARY\nMEMO FOR PRES\n(\n)\nREPLY FOR\nFAR EAST\n(\n)\nAPPROPRIATE ACTION\n(\n)\nDISTRIBUTION/INITIAL ACTION ASGMT\nSUB-SAHARAN AFRICA\nMID EAST / NO. AFRICA / SO. ASIA\nA\nX\nMEMO\nTO\n(\n)\nRECOMMENDATIONS\n-\n)\nEUROPE / CANADA\nJOINT MEMO\n(\n)\nLATIN AMERICA\nREFER TO\nFOR:\n(\n)\nUNITED NATIONS\nECONOMIC\nANY ACTION NECESSARY?\n(\n)\nSCIENTIFIC\nCONCURRENCE\n(\n)\nPROGRAM ANALYSIS\nDUE DATE:\nNSC PLANNING\nCOMMENTS: (INCLUDING 4/20 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS)\nCONGRESSIONAL\nOCEANS\nPOLICY\nLend INTRLLIGENCE m\nDATE\nFROM\nTO\nS\nSUBSEQUENT ACTION REQUIRED (OR TAKEN):\nCY TO\n4/14/75\nOakley\nHAK\n4/14\nHAK\nX\nhis to Sn the of Bandarancike\nSUBSEQUENT ROUTING/ACTIONS\n(4-21)\n4/19\nPres\nP\nsen the to\n4/21\nNSC/5\nC\nPres sad Hr to Bandaranaike\n4/21\nState\nIn dispated\nDISPATCH Jason s/s\nMICROFILM & FILE RQMTS:\nCY\nRQMTS:\nSEE\nABOVE\nPLUS:\nNSC/S DISP INSTR\nNOTIFY\n& DATE\nBY\nM/F'D\nBY\nhe\nSPECIAL DISPOSITION:\nCRT ID:\nSA\nSF\nCROSS REF W/\nX\nOPEN\nHP\nNS\nSUSPENSE CY ATTACHED:\nFOLDER:\nCLOSE M\nWH\nEP\nPA\nDY\n(NBC-74-21)\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nApril 27, 1976\nDear Madame Prime Minister:\nThank you for your thoughtful message of April 12. I am\npleased that the United States has been able to play a\nhelpful role in the economic development of Sri Lanka,\nin the spirit of the warm friendship and mutual respect\nwhich exists between our Governments and our peoples.\nI want to assure you that we will continue to give the\nrequirements of Sri Lanka our close consideration this\nyear. As you know, the United States has sought to work\nconstructively with your Government in its development\nefforts and we expect to continue this support in the future.\nWhile we are still in the early stages of our fiscal year\n1977 Congressional authorization and appropriation cycle,\nwe hope to be as responsive in Paris as these limitations\nwill permit.\nWith warm best wishes,\nHerald R. and\nHer Excellency\nSirimavo Bandaranaike\nPrime Minister of the Republic of Sri Lanka\nColombo\nFOHD\n&\nGERALD\nINTERNAL NSC ROUTING\nBARNES\nBOVERIE\nbas\nCLIFT\nMOZELESKI\nDAVIS\n*\nELLIOTT\nFARMAR\nANGER\nHORAN\n10 disp\nHORMATS\nJANKA\nCW\nOAKLEY\nBER\nRATLIFF\nSKANCKE\nSOLOMON\nTAYLOR\nADMIN\nOTHER\n(TURN THIS TAB UP TO MOVE\nBACK TO THE SECRETARIAT)\nCLASSIFICATION:\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nREFERRAL\nDate: April 28, 1976\nNSC log # 7602236\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nGeorge S. Springsteen\nExecutive Secretary\nDepartment of State\nDOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:\nTo:\nPM Bandaranaike\nFrom: President\nApr 27, 1976\nDate:\nSubject: Assistance to Sri Lanka\nACTION REQUESTED:\nDraft reply for:\nPresident's Signature\nWhite House Staff\nOther\nDirect reply\nFurnish info copy\nXX Dispatch\nTranslation\nRecommendations / Comments\nAppropriate Handling\nOther\nInformation\nDUE DATE:\nCOMMENTS:\nfor Jeanne W. Davis D'Agostime\nStaff Secretary\nCLASSIFICATION:\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE PRESIDENT HAS SENN\n2236\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nACTION\nApril 26, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nBRENT SCOWCROFT\nB\nSUBJECT:\nAnnual Letter from Prime Minister (Mrs.)\nBandaranaike of Sri Lanka on U.S. Economic\nAssistance\nPrime Minister (Mrs.) Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka has sent you the letter\nat Tab B urging that the U.S. be as generous as possible in its pledge of\neconomic assistance at the forthcoming annual World Bank Aid Group\nmeeting for Sri Lanka. It would be appropriate for you to reply to her\nmessage, as you did last year.\nMrs. Bandaranaike has written a similar letter every year at this time\nsince she took office almost six years ago, to remind us of her needs and\nrequest that the U.S. continue to be helpful at the time the pledges are made\nat the annual Aid Group meeting. Our recent Congressional Presentation\nfor Sri Lanka anticipated PL 480 Title I pledges of 100, 000 metric tons of\nflour and $8 million in development loans -- approximately the same levels\nof aid we provided last year. Mrs. Bandaranaike has been extremely\nappreciative of our past assistance.\nSince it is early in our FY 77 planning and since Congress has not yet\nacted on your request, we will not be able to take a firm position at the\nParis meeting. However, our representatives will review the figures\ncited in our Congressional Presentation as indicative of our objectives,\nwhich is of interest to the Sri Lankans mainly for their own planning pur-\nposes. The proposed reply for your signature at Tab A, therefore, simply\nindicates our willingness to be responsive without at this time committing\nus to specific levels.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the letter to Mrs. Bandaranaike at Tab A. [Text coordinated\nwith Mr. Hartmann's office (Mr. Smith).\n2236\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\nACTION\nApril 22, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nBRENT SCOWCROFT\nTabsI\nFROM:\nROBERT B. OAKLEY\n& rezyped\nSUBJECT:\nAnnual Letter from Prime Minister (Mrs.)\nBandaranaike on US Economic Assistance\nfor Sri Lanka\nMrs. Bandaranaike has sent her annual letter to the President expressing\nthe hope that the US will be as generous as possible at the upcoming World\nBank Aid Group meeting for Sri Lanka. Our aid levels this year will\nprobably be the same as last, although we are not now in a position to\ncommit specific levels until Congress actually appropriates the funds\nrequested in our recent presentation on the Hill.\nThe President owes a courtesy reply to the Prime Minister indicating\nour general interest in being as responsive as we can within the limits\nof our resources. He sent a similar letter last year.\nBureaucratically, there is a slight variance in the way in which State\nforwarded its proposed reply this year. State sent over a proposed\ncable for clearance (attached), evidently because the new desk officer\ndid not understand that the President had previously signed a letter on\ngreen in reply (as has been done since 1970). Also, Mrs. Bandaranaike\nsent her message through her Ambassador here rather than sending a\npersonal letter, but only because she was out of the country at the\ntime. Since Mrs. Bandaranaike puts immense stock in the personal touch,\nI suggest we continue our past policy of having the President sign the\ngreen letter of reply. This is set up in the memo at Tab I which you\ncould forward to the President.\n[FYI: Ambassador Van Hollen has now extended the President's open\ninvitation for an Official Visit and Mrs. Bandaranaike is absolutely\ndelighted.\nRECOMMENDATION: That you forward the memo at Tab I to the\nPresident seeking his signature on a reply to Mrs. Bandaranaike.\n[Text coordinated with Mr. Hartmann's office and is essentially the same as\nthat sent to us by State in the draft telegram].\nAPPROVE\nAS AMENDED\nConcurrence: Bob Hormats\nJUH\n2236\n7607852\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nApril 15, 1976\nUNCLASSIFIED\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. BRENT SCOWCROFT\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSubject: Transmittal of Letter to the President from\nPrime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka\nAttached is a letter from Prime Minister Sirima\nBandaranaike of Sri Lanka to the President making the\nannual appeal for a forthcoming stance at the Sri Lanka\naid consortium meeting (April 27). A draft reply is\nattached indicating sympathetic consideration but mak-\ning no commitments.\n1-4\nGeorge S. Springsteen\nExecutive Secretary\nAttachments:\n1. Letter from Prime Minister Bandaranaike\n2. A Draft Reply\nUNCLASSIFIED\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\nNEA/INS: AATHIBAULT JR. : JES\n4/14/76 EXT: 22307\nNSC:\nNEA/INS:DKUX\nNEA: ADUBS\nAID/ASIA/SA: JECOLES\nS/S:\nIMMEDIATE\nCOLOMBO\nNSC\nE.O. 11652: N/A\nAAT/PE\nTAGS: EAID, CE\nDK\nAD\nHo\nSUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S REPLY TO PRIME MINISTER BANDARANAIKE\nJE\n66/m\n1. PLEASE FORWARD FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TO\nPRIME MINISTER BANDARANAIKE: QUOTE: DEAR MADAM PRIME\nS/S\nMINISTER: THANK YOU FOR YOUR MESSAGE OF APRIL 12 CONCERNING\nTHE UPCOMING MEETING OF THE SRI LANKA AID GROUP.\n2. YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE WILL GIVE SRI LANKA'S REQUIRE-\nMENTS OUR CLOSE CONSIDERATION. AS YOU KNOW, THE UNITED\nSTATES HAS SOUGHT TO WORK WITH SRI LANKA IN ITS DEVELOPMENT\nEFFORTS AND WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE THIS SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE.\nWE ARE STILL AT AN EARLY STAGE IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 1977\nAPPROPRIATION AND PLANNING CYCLE BUT WE HOPE TO BE AS RE-\nSPONSIVE IN PARIS AS THESE LIMITATIONS PERMIT US TO BE.\n3. PLEASE ACCEPT, MADAM PRIME MINISTER, THE ASSURANCES OF\nMY HIGHEST CONSIDERATION. SINCERELY, GERALD R. FORD. END\nQUOTE.\n7607852\n4. FOREGOING IS IN RESPONSE TO PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE\nCONVEYED TO ASSISTANT SECRETARY ATHERTON BY AMBASSADOR\nKANAKARATNE. SEPTEL FOLLOWS WITH TEXT. YY\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\nTHE AMBASSADOR OF SRI LANKA\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\nApril 12, 1976.\nMy dear Mr. President,\nI have been instructed by my Prime Minister\nto convey the following message to you :-\n\" Your Excellency,\nI am writing to you in connection with the\nSri Lanka Aid Group Meeting scheduled to be held on\nApril 27th 1976.\nThe economy of Sri Lanka has recently been\nreviewed by the World Bank, and their Economic\nMemorandum, which identifies the present problems,\nand the immediate need, for Sri Lanka's economy, has\nalready been circulated among the member countries\nof the Sri Lanka Aid Group.\nIt is gratifying to note that, despite\nmany obstacles, Sri Lanka has been able to achieve\na measure of success in her effort to develop the\neconomy in a manner consistent with our political\nand social objectives. Within a few years, we\nhave been able to bring down the population growth\nto a very satisfactory level. A marginal improvement\nin the growth rate and a more equitable distribution\nof income, with equality of opportunity, have been\nrealized. These successes, though far from adequate,\nwere possible through the generous assistance from\ncountries such as yours.\nWith the external assistance received, a\nmore impressive performance would have been possible\nhad it not been for certain unfavourable conditions\nwhich were beyond our control. As is evident from\nthe World Bank Economic Memorandum, for some years\nnow, our terms of trade have been deteriorating\nalarmingly and the prices of our essential imports\nhave reached a prohibitive level. The consequent\nwidening of the external resource gap has acted as\na severe constraint on the growth of our economy.\n/\n- 2 -\nWe have taken all possible measures within our means\nto steer the economy on the path of rapid development. A\npolicy reorientation which is more favourable to rapid\neconomic growth has been initiated and plans for a number\nof major development projects are being worked out.\nHowever, in view of our deteriorating balance-of-payments\nposition, continued success in our effort would require\na substantial amount of external assistance, particularly\nin the form of Commodity Aid.\nYour Government has been generous in giving us\nsustained assistance in the past, for which I am most\ngrateful. In view of Sri Lanka's continuing need for\nexternal assistance, I would appreciate it greatly if\nyour Government would find it possible to make a pledge\nof substantial assistance at the forthcoming meeting of\nthe Aid Group.\nWith assurances of my highest consideration.\nSirima R. D. Bandaranaike\nPrime Minister of Sri Lanka. \"\nYours sincerely,\nNeville Kanakaratne\nNeville Kanakaratne.\nThe President\nThe White House\nWashington D.C.\nIt\nLIBRARY\nFORD\n&\nGERALD\nThe President\nThe White House\nWASHINGTON D.C.\n2236\n25\nDear Madame Prime Minister:\nThank you for your thoughtful message of April 12. I am\npleased that the United States has been able to play a\nhelpful role in the economic development of Sri Lanka,\nin the spirit of the warm friendship and mutual respect\nwhich exists between our Governments and our peoples.\nI want to assure you that we will continue to give the\nrequirements of Sri Lanka our close consideration this\nyear. As you know, the United States has sought to work\nconstructively with your Government in its development\nefforts and we expect to continue this support in the future.\nWhile we are still in the early stages of our fiscal year\n1977 Congressional authorization and appropriation cycle,\nwe hope to be as responsive in Paris as these limitations\nwill permit.\nWith warm best wishes,\nHer Excellency\nSirimavo Bandaranaike\nPrime Minister of the Republic of Sri Lanka\nColombo\nGERALD ? FORD\nRevised:BS:nm:4/25/76\n2236\n2x\nACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nBRENT SCOWCROFT\nSUBJECT:\nAnnual Letter from Prime Minister (Mrs.)\nBandaramaike of Sri Lanka on U.S. Economic\nAssistance\nPrime Minister (Mrs.) Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka has sentyomu the letter\nat Tab B urging that the U.S. be as generous as possible in its pledge of\neconomic assistance at the forthcoming annual World Bank Aid Group\nmeeting for Sri Lanka. It would be appropriate for you to reply to her\nmessage, as you did last year.\nMrs. Bandaranaike has written a similar letter every year at this time\nsince she took office almost six years ago, to remind us of her needs and\nrequest that the U.S. continue to be helpful at the time the pledges are made\nat the annual Aid Group meeting. Our recent Congressional Presentation\nfor Sri Lanka anticipated PL 480 Title I pledges of 100, 000 metric tons of\nflour and $8 million in development loans -- appreximately the same levels\nof aid we provided last year. Mrs. Bandaranaike has been extremely\nappreciative of our past assistance.\nSince it is early in our FY 77 planning and since Congress has not yet\nacted on your request, we will not be able to take a firm position at the\nParis meeting. However, our representatives will review the figures\ncited in our Congressional Presentation as indicative of our objectives,\nwhich is of interest to the Sri Lankans mainly for their own planning pur-\nposes. The proposed reply for your signature at Tab A, therefore, simply\nindicates our willingness to be responsive without at this time committing\nus to specific levels.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the letter to Mrs. Bandaranaike at Tab A. [Text coordinated\nwith Mr. Hartmann's office (Mr. Smith).]\nFORD\n&\nDERALD\nLIGRARY\nRevised:BS:nm:4/25/76\n2236\n2L\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nBRENT SCOWCROFT\nSUBJECT:\nAnnual Letter from Prime Minister\n(Mrs. ) Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka on\nUS Economic Assistance\nPrime Minister (Mrs.) Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka has sent you the\nletter at Tab B urging that the US be as generous as possible in its\npledge of economic assistance at the forthcoming annual World Bank\nAid Group meeting for Sri Lanka. It would be appropriate for you to\nreply to her message, as you did last year.\nMrs. Bandaranaike has written a similar letter every year at this\ntime since she took office almost six years ago, to remind us of her\nneeds and ensure that the US will continue to be helpful at the time\nthe pledges are made at the annual Aid Group meeting. Our recent\nCongressional Presentation for Sri Lanka anticipated PL 480 Title I\npledges of 100,000 metric tons of flour and $8 million in development\nloans--approximately the same levels of aid we provided last year.\nMrs. Bandaranaike has been extremely appreciative of our past\nassistance.\nHowever,\nSince it is early in our FY 77 planning and since Congress has not\nyet appropriated our requested funds, we will not be able to take a\nfirm position at the Paris meeting. but our representatives will review\nthe figures cited in our Congressional Presentation as indicative of\nour objectives, which is of interest to the Sri Lankans mainly for\ntheir own planning purposes. The proposed reply for your signature\nat Tab A, therefore, simply indicates our willingness to be res-\nponsive without at this time committing us to specific levels.\nRECOMMENDATION: That you sign the letter to Mrs. Bandaranaike\nat Tab A. Text coordinated with Mr. Hartmann's office (Mr. Smith). ]\nFORD\nR\nGERALD\nLIBRARY\nam\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nDear Madame Prime Minister:\nThank you for your thoughtful message of April 12.\nI am pleased that the United States continues to play\na helpful role in the economic development of Sri\nLanka, in the spirit of the warm friendship and mutual\nrespect which exists between our Governments and\nour peoples.\nI want to assure you that we will continue to give the\nrequirements of Sri Lanka our close consideration\nthis year. As you know, the United States has sought\nto work constructively with your Government in its\ndevelopment efforts and we expect to continue this\nsupport in the future. While we are still in the early\nstages of our fiscal year 1977 Congressional authori-\nzation and appropriation cycle, we hope to be as res-\nponsive in Paris as these limitations will permit.\nWith warm best wishes,\nHer Excellency\nSirimavo Bandaranaike\nPrime Minister of the Republic of Sri Lanka\nColombo\nFORD LIBRARY & 03\nDOC\nRECD\nLOG NUMBER\nMO\nDA\nMO\nDA\nHR\nINITIAL ACTION O\nNSC CORRESPONDENCE PROFILE\n415\n4\n15\n19\n7602236\nFROM: SECSTATE\nS/S 76078526\nTO: PRES\nOahley NO FORN\nUNCLAS LOG OUT\nSCOWCROFT X\nSECDEF\nLOU\nNODIS\nHYLAND\nDCI\nX REF\nC\nEYES ONLY\nEXDIS\nDAVIS\nSTATE EXSEC\n$\nCODEWORD\nSOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIPTION\nOTHER Bandaranciche, S\nTS\nSENSITIVE\nSUBJECT Ach lt to fres for In Bandaranaike of\nSir Landa re US pontion at aid consortium\nmtg on 27 Apr 1976\nINTERNAL ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION\nREC\nACTION REQUIRED\nACTION\nCONCUR-\nCOOR-\nINFO\nCY\nRENCE\nDINATE\nFOR\nADV CYS S'CROFT / WGH\nMEMO FOR SCOWCROFT\nSTAFF SECRETARY\nMEMO FOR PRES\nCONGRESSIONAL\nREPLY FOR\nECONOMIC\nDISTRIBUTION/INITIAL ACTION ASGMT\nto\nAPPROPRIATE ACTION\nEUR/ CANADA/ OCEANS\nMEMO\nTO\nFAR EAST PRC\nRECOMMENDATIONS\nINTELLIGENCE\nJOINT MEMO\nLATIN AMERICA\nREFER TO\nFOR:\nMID EAST/ NO. AFRICA\nt\nANY ACTION NECESSARY?\nNSC PLANNING\nCONCURRENCE\nPROGRAM ANALYSIS\nSCIENTIFIC\nDUE DATE: 4/22\nCOMMENTS: (INCLUDING SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS)\nLonad, SUB-SAH/ AFRICA/ m UN\ncefor DATE (wH\nIn\n&\nOut\nonly\nX\nFROM\nTO\nSTATUS\nSUBSEQUENT ACTION REQUIRED IOR TAKEN):\nDUE\nCY TO\n4/22\nOakly\nDaves\n4/22\nscuft\nX\nPres to 5 fn lts to Bankmenathe\n(4/28)\nSUBSEQUENT ROUTING/ACTIONS\n4-26\nPris\nDgn ltr to Bandaranaike\n4-27\nJoses\nX Bandaranad\n4/28\nHavis\nS\nfrie to Ligited\n4/29\n4/28\nState\nC\nIn despated\nDISPATCH Jia 5/5 4/27/26\nNOTIFY\nMICROFILM & FILE ROMTS\nNSC/S DISP INSTR\nM/FD\nBY\nSPECIAL DISPOSITION:\nCRT ID\nNS\nDY\nSPEC IL INDEXING:\nOPEN\nWH SA FP\nSUSPENSE CY ATTACHED\nX\nCLOSE Hb\nPA\nNSC 76-21\nU.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE - 599-022 - 1976\n599-022"
}