SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION
  INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(C) OF THE SECURITIES
              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.     )

Check the appropriate box:
|_|   Preliminary information      |_|    Confidential, for use of the
                                          Commission only (as permitted
                                          By rule 14c-5(d)(2))
|X|   Definitive information statement

         VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL GOVERNMENT TARGET FUND
    (Name of Registrant as specified in its Declaration of Trust)

Payment of Filing Fee:
|X|  No fee required.
|_|  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11.
|_|  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.



         VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL GOVERNMENT TARGET FUND
                         One Parkview Plaza
                  Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
                      Telephone (800) 341-2911

                        INFORMATION STATEMENT


      This Information Statement is being furnished to you by the Board
of Trustees (the "Trustees" or "Board of Trustees") of Van Kampen
American Capital Government Target Fund (the "Fund") to inform all
holders of the Fund's common shares of beneficial interest, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Shares"), of the Fund's receipt of shareholder
approval of the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund which is
scheduled for December 16, 1997. As described herein, the Fund since its
inception has anticipated liquidating as of December 16, 1997 subject to
shareholder approval. This document is required under federal securities
laws and is provided solely for your information. The approximate mailing
date of this Information Statement is November 26, 1997.

      Holders of record of the Fund's Shares on the close of business on
September 26, 1997 (the "Record Date") are entitled to receive this
Information Statement. On the Record Date, the Fund had issued,
outstanding and entitled to vote 902,468 Shares. Holders of 557,331 (or
61.77% of the outstanding Shares) as of the Record Date have consented in
writing approving the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund. As a
result, the proposal was approved by the majority required by applicable
law and no further votes will be needed. See "Shareholder Information"
below.


       WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT
                           TO SEND US A PROXY




THE FUND

      The Fund is a diversified open-end investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
The Fund's investment objective is to provide shareholders the highest
rate of return on their investments consistent with safety and liquidity.
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least
80% of its assets in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. There is no assurance the
Fund can achieve its investment objective. The Fund commenced investment
operations on September 11, 1990. As described in the Fund's original
prospectus, the Fund since its inception has anticipated liquidating its
assets on December 16, 1997. See "Liquidation and Dissolution" below.

      The Fund, formerly known as American Capital Government Target
Series, was originally organized on June 14, 1990 as a business trust
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was reorganized
as a business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 25,
1995. The business of the Fund is managed under the supervision of the
Fund's Board of Trustees. The Fund is advised by Van Kampen American
Capital Asset Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") which is located at One
Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181. The Fund is distributed
by Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor")
which is also located at One Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
60181. Additional shares of the Fund are available only to current
shareholders through dividend reinvestments. Shareholders may redeem 
Shares of the Fund at net asset value at any time prior to the
liquidation date as described in the Fund's current prospectus. Any gain
or loss realized upon a redemption is a taxable event.

      Further information about the Fund is available in its most recent
annual report which may be obtained free of charge by calling
1-800-231-2808, ext. 80 or by writing to the Fund at the One Parkview
Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181.

LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION

      The Fund anticipates liquidating its assets on December 16, 1997
and dissolving promptly thereafter. Upon liquidation, a shareholder may
elect to receive a liquidating distribution in cash or may elect to
exchange such shareholder's Shares of the Fund at net asset value for
shares of one or more available open-end Van Kampen American Capital or
Morgan Stanley retail funds. Shareholders not electing to receive cash or
an exchange will automatically have their Shares of the Fund
exchanged at net asset value into a like account in the Van Kampen
American Capital Reserve Fund. The Reserve Fund is a money market fund
that seeks protection of capital and high current income. The Reserve Fund's
shares are not guaranteed or insured by the U.S. Government, and there is 
no assurance that the Reserve Fund will be able to maintain a stable net 
asset value of $1.00.  Any gain or loss realized by the transfer of assets 
resulting from the liquidation of the Fund is a taxable event. Please consult
your tax adviser.

      Shareholders seeking cash or an exchange should contact the
Telephone Transaction Department at 1-800-421-5684 between 8:00 a.m. and
3:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. For additional information
about the liquidation of your account or to receive a copy of a
prospectus for any Van Kampen American Capital or Morgan Stanley retail
fund, shareholders should call 1-800-231-2808, ext. 80 between 7:00 a.m.
and 7:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday (Telecom munications
Device for the Deaf users can call 1-800-421-2833).

      On September 4, 1997, the Board of Trustees of the Fund met and
approved the liquidation of the Fund on or about December 16, 1997.
Pursuant to the Fund's Declaration of Trust and By-laws, the Fund's
liquidation and dissolution must be approved by a majority vote of the
Fund's issued and outstanding voting securities entitled to vote on such
action and may be done by means of an instrument in writing without a
meeting. Holders of 557,331 (or 61.77% of the outstanding Shares) as of
the Record Date have consented in writing approving the liquidation and
dissolution of the Fund. As a result, the proposal was approved by the
majority required by applicable law and no further votes are needed. The
Board of Trustees does not intend to solicit any proxies or consents from
other shareholders in connection with this action. No action is required
by you as a shareholder of the Fund; this Informa tion Statement is
provided to you for your information as required under federal securities
laws.

      The expenses related to the liquidation and dissolution of the
Fund, including the expenses of preparing, printing and mailing this
Information Statement, will be paid by the Fund's Adviser.

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

      As of the Record Date, the total number of Shares issued,
outstanding and entitled to vote was 902,468 Shares. Shareholders of the
Fund on the Record Date were entitled to one vote per Share with no Share
having cumulative voting rights. As of the Record Date, the trustees and
officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding
Shares of the Fund. As of the Record Date, no sharehold ers, to the
knowledge of the Fund owned beneficially more than 5% of the Fund's
outstanding Shares except for: Amivest Corporation, 767 5th Avenue, 50th
Floor, New York, NY 10153 which held approximately 61.77% of the
outstanding Shares and therefore could be deemed to control the Fund.

                                  Ronald A. Nyberg
                                  Vice President and Secretary