Office of the Historian

320. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Shlaudeman) to Secretary of State Kissinger1

Washington, October 12, 1976.

Allegations of USG Complicity in Sabotage of Air Cubana Flight from Barbados

Apparently as the result of a bomb explosion, a Cubana plane went down near Barbados October 6, with the loss of all aboard (78 persons, reportedly including Cuban, North Korean, Russian, Venezuelan, Guyanese, and British passengers).

Fanned by Cuban allegations, the Caribbean press—and to some extent, Caribbean governments—are increasingly suspicious that the CIA may have had a hand in the affair. Guyanese leaders are particularly upset by the event and the allegations of USG involvement.

Two key suspects detained in Trinidad had in their possession the name and telephone number of our legal attaché in Caracas. At least one and possibly two anti-Castro Cuban organizations with Miami links have claimed credit for the bombing. These facts are known to Caribbean governments.

We have further intelligence linking a wanted fugitive from U.S. justice (previously incarcerated for bombings in Miami) Orlando Bosch, with the bombing of the October 6 Cubana flight. We have asked the President of Venezuela to deport this man to the U.S. He has not yet responded, and Bosch may have fled the country.

October 8 our press spokesman said we have offered the Barbadian authorities our assistance in investigating the crash and reiterated our categorical opposition to international terrorism of any kind from any source.

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I believe it is important that we re-emphasize at a high level our strong opposition to all kinds of terrorism from any source, thus making clear that there was no USG involvement in the crash. I recommend that you send letters to the Foreign Ministers of Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana for that purpose.

Recommendation:

That you approve the attached telegram transmitting a letter from you to the Foreign Ministers of Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana.

  1. Summary: Shlaudeman informed Kissinger of suspicions in the Caribbean that the CIA had played a part in the bombing of the Cuban airliner that crashed off of Barbados on October 6, and he transmitted a draft of a letter to be sent to the Foreign Ministers of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P760162–2674. Secret. Drafted by Heavner. Referrong to the attached proposed letter to the three Foreign Ministers, Kissinger wrote at the top of the memorandum “Except that I don’t call [Guyanese Foreign Minister Frederick] Wills by his 1st name.” Attached but not published is a draft telegram containing the text of the letters. (Ibid., P760162–2676) A revised version was sent as telegram 254013, October 14, to Georgetown, Port of Spain, Bridgetown, and the U.S. Mission to the UN. (Ibid., D760385–0543) Telegrams 1893 and 1904 from Bridgetown, October 6 and 7, reported on the Cubana crash. (Ibid., D760377–0597 and D760378–1272)

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