July 18, 1972

FOR: Col. Kennedy

FROM: Fred Rondon

SUBJECT:
NSSM 115 - Horn of Africa
NSSM 142 - Rhodesia

Unless you prefer to keep them on the Senior Review Group calendar, I recommend removing the studies on the Horn of Africa and Rhodesia from active consideration.

NSSM 142 on Rhodesia was predicated upon a successful British settlement with Ian Smith. It did not come about. With no early prospects for British recognition of Rhodesia, I see no need for us to further consider the policy options in the NSSM 142 study.

A review of our Horn of Africa policy is probably still a good idea but there is no urgency to do so in 1972. If you disagree, I think that we would want a fresh NSSM study rather than the March, 1971 study which was written at a time of increased ELF insurgency, of doubts about our proceeding with a small arms modernization program (M-14s) in Ethiopia or not, and when there was a conviction [text not declassified] that Kagnew was essential. Since then, the ELF has quieted down, the American complement [text not declassified] at Kagnew has been reduced from 1500 to 900 men, and we have gone ahead with the arms modernization program notwithstanding reduced MAP levels.

Rather than keeping the NSSM 115 and 142 studies on the books any longer, I recommend killing them. If you agree, would you initial the chit for Jeanne Davis at Tab 1.

Att.