Office of the Historian

251. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1

Washington, August 31, 1961, 8:01 p.m.

1086. Eyes only Ambassador Bruce. Embtel 876.2FYI. We agree on desirability focusing attention first team” in Colonial Office on British Guiana. [Page 527] However, we uneasy at postponing talks which would oblige us delay discussion we plan to have with Jagan until after mid-September. Also we desire involve Foreign Office and Lord Home personally in problem whose ramifications clearly extend beyond colony of British Guiana and which could have abrasive effects on Anglo-American relations. Lord Home will be away from London latter part week September 11 attending FonMin meeting here. End FYI.

Under circumstances, appears to us best procedure is that suggested by Colonial Office, e.g., that you have preliminary talk with MacLeod week of September 4. We hope you could include Lord Home. You could outline to them general lines of our thinking and seek agreement in principle. More intensive talks could be held early week of September 11.

If you consider this approach feasible, we prepared to send on short notice Department officer (Burdett) brief you on our proposed program. ICA [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] reps could arrive subsequently for talks week September 11.

Intelligence estimate referred to is one submitted Embassy despatch 1966.3

Rusk
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, British Guiana, Aug. 24-Sept. 6, 1961. Top Secret; Priority. Drafted by Burdett, cleared by Tyler, and approved by U. Alexis Johnson.↩
  2. Dated August 29. (Department of State, Central Files, 741D.00/8-2961)↩
  3. Dated April 19. (Ibid., 741D.00/4-1961)↩