Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XII, American Republics

293. Memorandum for the Record¹

Washington, June 21, 1963.

SUBJECT

• White House Meeting on British Guiana

ATTENDANCE

The President

For Department of State: Messrs. Rusk, Johnson, and Burdett

For AID: Mr. Bell

For the White House: Messrs. Bundy, Dungan, and Kaysen

For CIA: Messrs. McCone and Helms

1. The meeting opened with a briefing by Helms on the current situation in British Guiana. [2 lines of source text not declassified] and the hard position being taken by Jagan in the negotiations for a return to work on the part of the TUC.

2. There followed a discussion of the AID aspects of a paper submitted to the President entitled Instructions for Official Level Talks with UK on British Guiana”. Rusk and Bell pointed out that we were proposing financial support to British Guiana which was significantly in excess of anything given to a country of comparable size under the Alliance for Progress. There was some comment about the resentment this might cause in Latin America, but it was clear that the President was prepared to accept unfavorable reaction if the United States Government was able to secure a favorable resolution of the political problem in British Guiana, [less than 1 line of source text not declassified]

3. The meeting turned to a general discussion of the President’s scheduled talk with Macmillan at Birch Grove. It was clear that the President regards British Guiana as the most important topic he has to discuss with the Prime Minister. There was some debate as to the desirability of inviting Duncan Sandys to Birch Grove since he is a significant figure in any decisions which HMG may take. Rusk indicated that he would be better able to advise the President after he had met with Sandys and Home a day or two earlier.

[2 paragraphs (11-1/2 lines of source text) not declassified]

6. This meeting clarified the significant extent to which British Guiana has become a major policy issue between the United States and Great Britain.

Richard Helms ²
Deputy Director (Plans)

Attachment³

British Guiana—Points the President might make to Senator Fulbright

1. Call his attention to the statement on June 20 by Mrs. Janet Jagan, Minister of Home Affairs in charge of Security-British Guiana will establish closer relations with Russia and Cuba when it becomes independent. British Guiana Government is deeply grateful “to Fidel Castro’s Cuba for helping us out when we were stuck.”

2. The British have in fact supported the Jagan Government during the current strike. For example, the Cold Stream Guards were used to guard Cuban ships which arrived carrying food and fuel to break the strike. They also guarded the loading of a Russian freighter.

3. We understand that additional Cuban ships are on their way.

4. The strike was called in protest against a labor relations bill introduced by the Jagan Government which would have given the government control over the British Guiana labor movement. The strike has been supported by labor organizations in the US, UK, and the Caribbean.

5. Colonial Secretary Sandys stated in the House of Commons on June 18—The struggle is now more political than industrial and it has become clear the two sides are evenly balanced.” He then urged the people themselves to work out a widely acceptable settlement of the dispute. This is not only a misrepresentation of the nature of the strike, but illustrates the unwillingness of the UK to cope with the Jagan Government.

1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI/McCone Files, Job 80-B01285A. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Helms.
2. Printed from a copy that indicates Helms signed the original.
3. Confidential.