CABLE TO WWSB FROM DIRECTOR RE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL OF LETTER TO ALL CHIEFS OF MISSION RE THEIR AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - STATE MESSAGE 255656

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001003840031-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2006
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: December 11, 1981
• Content Type: CABLE

Approved For Release 2006/11/09: CIA-RDP88B00443R001003840031-5
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1. THE PRESIDENT HAS APPROVED THE TEXT OF A LETTER TO ALL
CHIEFS OF MISSION OUTLINING THEIR AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
THIS LETTER REPLACES THE OCTOBER 259 1977 LETTER FROM PRESIDENT
CARTER. PRESIDENT REAGAN'S LETTER WAS SENT TO ALL DIPLOMATIC POSTS
ON 24 SEPTEMBER 1981 AS UNCLASSIFIED STATE MESSAGE NUMBER 255656.
EACH CHIEF OF MISSION WILL RECEIVE A SIGNED COPY OF THE LETTER IN
DUE COURSE. THE TEXT OF THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER FOLLOWS.
2. THE WHITE HOUSE. WASHINGTON
SEPTEMBER 229 1981
DEAR MR. (MADAM) AMBASSADORI
I WANT TO EXTEND TO YOU MY PERSONAL BEST WISHES FOR THE
SUCCESS OF YOUR MISSION IN (BLANK). AS MY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
THERE. YOU. ALONG WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE. SHARE WITH ME THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONDUCT OF OUR RELATIONS WITH (BLANK).. I-
KNOW WE SHARE A MUTUAL CONVICTION THAT CARRYING THE AMERICAN MESSAGE
OF HOPE AND FREEDOM AND ADVANCING UNITED STATES' INTERESTS ABROAD
REINFORCES THE FOUNDATIONS OF PEACE. TOGETHER WE ARE PLEDGED TO
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WORK FOR NATIONAL STRENGTH AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND TO PROMOTE THE
VALUES UNDERGIRDING OUR NATION'S UNITY AND SECURITY.
I GIVE YOU MY FULL PERSONAL SUPPORT AS CHIEF OF THE UNITED
STATES MISSION IN/TO (BLANK) IN THE EXERCISE OF YOUR STRONG STATUTORY
MANDATE UNDER SECTION 207 OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1980 (22
U.S.C. 3927), I CHARGE YOU TO EXERCISE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
DIRECTION, COORDINATION, AND SUPERVISION OF ALL UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTRY OR ORGANIZATION TO
WHICH YOU ARE ACCREDITED, EXCEPT FOR PERSONNEL UNDER THE COMMAND OF
A UNITED STATES AREA MILITARY COMMANDER, PERSONNEL UNDER THE AUTHORITY
OF THE CHIEF OF ANOTHER UNITED STATES MISSION (FOR EXAMPLE, ONE
ACCREDITED TO AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION), OR PERSONNEL DETAILED
TO DUTY ON THE STAFF OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. I EXPECT
YOU TO OVERSEE THE OPERATION OF ALL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN THAT RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE NOTIFIED ALL
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES ACCORDINGLY, AND HAVE INSTRUCTED
THEM TO INFORM THEIR PERSONNEL IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD.
SO THAT YOU CAN ENSURE EFFECTIVE COORDINATION OF ALL UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES WITHIN YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, I ASK YOU
TO PROVIDE STRONG PROGRAM DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP OF OPERATIONS
MISSION-WIDE. PLEASE INSTRUCT ALL PERSONNEL UNDER YOUR CHARGES IT
IS THEIR DUTY TO KEEP YOU FULLY INFORMED AT ALL TIMES ABOUT THEIR
ACTIVITIES SO YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY DIRECT, COORDINATE AND SUPERVISE
UNITED STATES PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS UNDER YOUR JURISDICTION AND
RECOMMEND POLICIES TO WASHINGTON.
YOU WILL RECEIVE POLICY GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE
SECRETARY OF STATE, WHO IS MY PRINCIPAL FOREIGN POLICY SPOKESMAN AND
ADVISOR, OR FROM ME DIRECTLY. I EXPECT YOU TO REPORT WITH DIRECTNESS
AND CANDOR. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS THE
RESPONSIBILITY NOT ONLY FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
STATE AND THE FOREIGN SERVICE BUT ALSO, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED
BY LAW, FOR THE OVERALL POLICY DIRECTION, COORDINATION AND SUPERVISION
OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES OVERSEAS. THERE MAY BE
DEVELOPMENTS OR DECISIONS ON WHICH PERSONNEL UNDER YOUR AUTHORITY
DISAGREE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND I WILL ALWAYS WELCOME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE COURSES
OF ACTION, AND POLICY PROPOSALS.
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AS YOU ASSUME YOUR DUTIES, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO SO WITH A
STRONG COMMITMENT TO IMPARTIAL AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF ALL U.S.
GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL UNDER YOUR JURISDICTION. SHOULD ANY PERCEIVED
INEQUITIES BE AMENABLE TO ELIMINATION OR MITIGATION BY APPEAL TO OR
NEGOTIATION WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT, I URGE YOU TO PURSUE THIS
COURSE IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH YOUR AUTHORITY AND WITH INTER.
NATIONAL LAW AND ESTABLISHED CUSTOMARY PRACTICE, RECOGNIZING THAT
VARIOUS AGENCIES OPERATE UNDER DIFFERENT LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS,
SHOULD YOU CONSIDER LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE POLICY CHANGES TO BE
DESIRABLE IN THIS CONNECTION, YOU SHOULD RECOMMEND SUCH CHANGES
THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE. ADDITIONALLY, FAIR TREATMENT OF ALL
U.S. GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX OR
NATIONAL ORIGIN EPITOMIZES OUR BELIEF IN AND ADHERENCE TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, A VALUE AND CONCEPT THAT FORM
AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC TRADITION,
AS COMMANDER?IN-CHIEF, I HAVE AUTHORITY OVER UNITED STATES
MILITARY FORCES. ON MY BEHALF YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOP THE
DIRECTION, COORDINATION, SUPERVISION, AND SAFETY, INCLUDING SECURITY
FROM TERRORISM, OF ALL DEFENSE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL IN (BLANK)
EXCEPT THOSE FORCES UNDER THE OPERATIONAL COMMAND AND CONTROL OF A
UNITED STATES AREA MILITARY COMMANDER AND PERSONNEL DETAILED TO
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. DEFENSE ATTACHE OFFICES, UNITS ENGAGED
IN SECURITY ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER DOD COMPONENTS ATTACHED TO YOUR
MISSION, AS WELL AS OTHER DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES WHICH MAY
HAVE AN IMPACT UPON THE CONDUCT OF OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH
(BLANK) FALL WITHIN YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU MAINTAIN CLOSE RELATIONS WITH CONCERNED
UNITED STATES AREA MILITARY COMMANDERS AND CHIEFS OF MISSION ACCRED-
ITED TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. A COPY OF THIS LETTER IS BEING
DISSEMINATED TO THEM. YOU MUST KEEP EACH OTHER CURRENTLY INFORMED
AND COOPERATE ON ALL MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST. ANY DIFFERENCES
WHICH CANNOT BE RESOLVED IN THE FIELD SHOULD BE REPORTED BY YOU TO
THE SECRETARY OF STATES UNIFIED COMMANDERS SHOULD REPORT TO THE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. I EXPECT THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL
AND PERSONAL CONDUCT FROM ALL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL
ABROAD. YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND MY FULL SUPPORT TO TAKE ANY
ACTION REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH STANDARDS.
YOUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE THE UNITED STATES'
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INTERESTS ABROAD AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION. AT THE SAME TIME, I EXPECT THAT THESE
RESOURCES WILL BE USED IN AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANNER, AND THAT
THEY WILL BE DIRECTLY AND CAREFULLY RELATED TO PRIORITY POLICY AND
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. YOU SHOULD INFORM THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHEN
YOU BELIEVE THAT STAFFING OF ANY AGENCY IS EITHER INADEQUATE OR
EXCESSIVE TO THE PERFORMANCE OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES WITH
IMAGINATION, ENERGY AND SKILL. YOU HAVE MY FULL PERSONAL CONFIDENCE
AND BEST WISHES.
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