Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973–1976

378. Telegram 2172 From the Embassy in Guyana to the Department of State¹

Georgetown, December 22, 1975, 1930Z.

2172. Subj: Transit Facilities for Cuban Military Flights. Ref: A. State 300224; B. Georgetown 2151.

1. Having picked up outside tip that Cuba has now requested transit facilities, I phoned GOG FonMin Fred Wills. I said I thought he would be amused to know that when I spoke to him on Friday about quote being ahead of the game unquote, it turned out that my reply was barely ahead of the inquiry I received from Washington, the two messages crossing enroute. Without further ado Wills said GOG now has request from Cuban Embassy for transit facilities.

2. Wills added that when request initially made orally by Cuban Embassy official, he asked whether latter acting on official instructions from Havana. When Cuban unable reply affirmatively, Wills asked him to make request in written form and said in meantime he should start GOG machinery in order to have a prompt answer.

3. Wills said he has reviewed existing bilateral aviation agreement with Cuba and it makes no repeat no provision for military flights and furthermore gives onward traffic rights only to West Africa. Wills said his recommendation to Prime Minister Burnham is that if GOG grants transit facilities for Cuban military flights enroute to Africa it will be tantamount to intervention by Guyana in Angolan conflict and politically would amount to outflanking Kaunda. He said he could see no rpt no objection to granting transit facilities for Cuban military flights returning from Africa to Cuba, since these would presumably be quote humanitarian unquote in nature.

4. As intimated by earlier message (reftel B) our track record in attempting to persuade GOG to come down on our side of critical international questions is such that I would have strong doubt that a high-level USG message to Burnham would be useful in the present instance. If anything is likely to sway Burnham on this question, it would probably have to be in the form of personal persuasion from fellow leader or leaders in the Third World; for example a message from President Pérez of Venezuela might carry some weight.

Krebs

1. Summary: Krebs reported that Wills had informed him of a Cuban request for transit facilities for flights en route to Africa, and he suggested that a message from a Third World leader might persuade Burnham not to facilitate the Cuban military airlift to Angola.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750444–0495. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to Bridgetown, Caracas, Kingston, Kinshasa, Lusaka, Paramaribo, Port of Spain, and USUN. In telegram 2151 from Georgetown, December 19, Krebs reported that he had discussed the possibility of a Cuban request for transit facilities with Wills, who said there had been no Cuban approach on the subject. (Ibid., D750442–0113) In telegram 300224 to Georgetown, December 20, the Department asked the Embassy to watch for signs that Burnham might grant transit facilities for Cuban military flights. (Ibid., D750443–0615) In telegram 300232 to Peking, December 21, the Department instructed the Liaison Office to ask the Chinese Government to use its influence to dissuade Guyana from granting transit facilities. (Ibid., P850012–2207) In telegram 2191 from Georgetown, December 24, the Embassy transmitted reports that Cuban flights had passed through Guyana between December 21 and 23. (Ibid., D750444–0495) In telegram 302785 to Caracas, December 24, the Department instructed Shlaudeman to ask the Venezuelan Government to “pass the word to Guyana to block the Cuban fueling flights.” (Ibid., D750447–0467)