366. Telegram 667 From the Embassy in Guyana to the Department of State1
667. For Assistant Secretary Kubisch from Ambassador. Subject: FonMin Ramphal Invites Secretary Kissinger to Visit Guyana. Ref: (A) Georgetown 662; (B) Georgetown 665.
[Page 950]1. In addition to topics covered during my initial meeting with FonMin Ramphal on April 27 and reported reftels, he handed me original and open copy of letter addressed to Secretary Kissinger. Original will go forward in classified pouch May 2. Text is as follows:
Begin quote:
27 April, 1974
I hope you agree that the frank and friendly character of our exchanges on hemispheric affairs in recent weeks justifies, indeed, commends the informality of my so addressing you. The reasons I write are twofold.
First, as I return to Georgetown from the special session of the General Assembly, I do so with happy recollections of my official visit to Washington and with gratitude for your many kindnesses on that occasion. I had, as you know, some misgivings about so early a resumption of the ‘dialogue’; as it turned out, I believe the overall results have been beneficial. Additionally, I understand that the spirit of the dialogue infused the consultations in Atlanta and this is, indeed, an achievement. I am specially grateful for your call at Atlanta that all the parties to the dialogue should participate fully in such consultations also, and I am pleased that the assembly has taken important steps in this direction.
Secondly, I write to renew my invitation to you to visit Guyana as part of your first South American visit, and to do so in as relaxed a manner as your chief of protocol will permit. My intent is not so much to put you ‘on parade’—although some of this will be inevitable but to give a further dimension to our dialogue in ways that would confirm its reality to our people and, I hope, as rewarding to you also. I shall be saying all this more formally to Ambassador Krebs; but I wish you to know directly from me that it is no mere courtesy.
With warm good wishes,
I remain,
(Shridath S. Ramphal)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
End Quote.
2. Ramphal had already recounted with evident gratification his several personal encounters with Secy Kissinger and had expressed admiration for Secretary’s management of U.S. foreign policy, particularly as regards relations with hemispheric nations. He was obviously flattered by invitation to travel from New York to Washington on Secretary’s plane and for the opportunity to continue their “dialogue” during flight. He noted that he had overridden objections within his own delegation in accepting Secretary’s invitation.
[Page 951]3. Ramphal said he felt it was important for Dr. Kissinger to include an English-speaking country on itinerary for his forthcoming visit to South America and he felt Guyana would be logical choice. He is particularly eager to bring Secretary and Prime Minister Burnham together as he believes they have much in common and will hit off well on personal basis. He added that personal rapport is important to Burnham and that latter in turn wants to play constructive role within non-aligned group.
4. With regard to bilateral relations, Ramphal said he and Burnham have come to realize that USG and GOG have somehow drifted away from very close and constructive relationship they developed prior to independence and during early years of independence. Both he and Burnham want to reverse this trend and feel that arrival of new U.S. Ambassador is propitious moment to start this process. They visualize visit of Secretary Kissinger as important in giving public impetus and recognition to this new direction.
5. Ramphal insisted, as stated in his letter, that he and Burnham would wish to have minimum of protocol-type activity during visit. They want Secretary Kissinger to feel relaxed and at ease. The real crux of visit would be private and informal conversations with Burnham and Ramphal.
6. Ramphal said he realized that Secretary had received invitations from a number of LA governments and the consequent difficulties in making up an itinerary which would not end up creating more frustration than positive accomplishment. However, he hopes his personal relationship with Secretary, added to unique position Burnham has carved out for Guyana in world affairs, will weigh balance in favor of his invitation.
7. Comment: Ramphal appeared quite sincerely to believe that his proposal has a fighting chance. I am aware from earlier exposure to Argentinue FonMin Vignes’s insistent invitation that there must be enormous pressures involved in trying to work out an itinerary which is physically realistic and at the same time diplomatically prudent. I recognize too that local facilities are less than ideal, however, I would hope that such factors would not outweigh the substantive considerations involved, which I believe are deserving of careful thought.
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Summary: In his first meeting with Ambassador Krebs, Foreign Minister Ramphal invited Kissinger to visit Guyana, noting the admiration that he had gained for the Secretary through his personal encounters with him at regional meetings. Ramphal added that he and Burnham recognized that the United States and Guyana had drifted apart, and that they desired to restore close, cooperative relations.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750101–1079. Confidential; Stadis; Limdis. In telegram 39184 to Georgetown, February 27, the Department transmitted a letter to Ramphal in which Kissinger expressed appreciation for the Foreign Minister’s “thoughtful and incisive contributions to the discussions” at the Mexico City MFM. (Ibid., P750001–0871) In telegram 435 from Georgetown, March 21, the Embassy transmitted Ramphal’s reply, which thanked Kissinger for his “generous sentiments.” (Ibid., D740060–0787) In telegrams 662 and 665 from Georgetown, April 29, Krebs reported on his April 27 discussion with Ramphal regarding Guyana’s more active role in hemispheric affairs. (Both ibid., D740102–0371 and D740101–1095) In telegram 92731 to Georgetown, May 6, the Department transmitted Kissinger’s reply to Ramphal’s letter in which Kissinger said that he would consider a stop in Guyana as his travel plans developed. (Ibid., D740109–0187) Kissinger did not visit South America until 1976; he did not stop in Guyana.
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