413. Telegram 962 From the Embassy in Jamaica to the Department of State1 2

[Page 1]

Subj:

  • Bauxite

For Deputy Assistant Secretary Hurwitch

1. Jamaican Finance Minister Seaga told Ambassador in course of hour-long meeting April 22 that Jamaican Government had decided on general course of action designed to achieve Jamaican participation in bauxite industry.

2 Seaga said nothing would happen until after May 23, Jamaican Labor Day. Some time after that date, Primin Shearer would go to Washington at head of working team to discuss future of bauxite industry. Shearer hoped to have meeting with President Nixon. Jamaicans planned to press for payment of $80,000,000 they feel they are owed by U.S. for taxes which were paid to U.S. but which should have gone to Jamaica (see State A–12 Mar 3, 1970. Jamaicans would then use money to buy into bauxite industry.

3. Seaga indicated this plan was all part of Jamaica Government’s strategy of staying out ahead of radicals and protesters by pre-empting issues before radicals raise them. Seaga said Trinidad PriMin Williams had failed to do this and was thus “finished” (septel).

De Roulet
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 786, Country Files, Latin America, Jamaica, Vol. I. Secret; Limdis.
  2. The Embassy reported on a meeting between Ambassador de Roulet and Jamaican Finance Minister Seaga, in which Seaga indicated that the Jamaican Government had decided on a course of action to gain equity participation in the bauxite industry.