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 To begin with, I believe we can do bener in assisting Russia and promoting our fiarm products there, 

 and at the same time help them along the road toward democracy and a free market. Moreover, 

 I believe we can do better with less money than we might think. All of this depends, however, on 

 good and effective management and understanding on our side. I am hopeful this is the kind of 

 leadership we Americans and the Russians will be seeing. 



Generally speaking, the Russians do not need food aid. This is what they are saying. However, not 

 all "liunger' is as we have been shown in Somalia. There is a way in which we can still help them 

 in this general area of food aid, and that is with children who have been disadvantaged, and perhaps 

 the elderly. If we were to target specifically these two parts of the population that are within "the 

 safety net" and assure them complete health care packages - including the nutritional aspects - they 

 require, we could then subtract that from the size of the grain they would otherwise be required to 

 import. Theoretically, this would lessen the amount of credit or other concessions we might be 

 asked for. (I realize this would likely affect wheat more than other grains, and that could have 

 repercussions here, but it could well leave more financing available not only for livestock feed but 

 the equipment they need so desperately in the livestock industry, as well as processing equipment) 



While a "Children's Assistance Program" as described above would be comparatively small, it would 

 be terribly important to its recipients and their loved ones. It embodies several advantages, the main 

 one of which is that it would address total health needs - immunizations, other pediatric necessities 

 and nutrition. In addressing the totality of the situation for youngsters whose health might have 

 been impaired by serious environmental pollution, we would be reminding the Russians that we 

 Americans are still the same compassionate people who came to their help with Lend Lease during 

 what they call The Great Patriotic War. In a subliminal way, and here we recall how the physical 



