Office of the Historian

443. Memorandum of Conversation1

Washington, March 13, 1974.

SUBJECT

  • Secretary’s Meeting with Prime Minister Manley

PARTICIPANTS

  • Jamaica
  • Prime Minister Michael Manley
  • Sir Egerton Richardson, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister
  • Mr. Mayer Matalon, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, former Chairman, Jamaican Bauxite Commission
  • Ambassador Douglas Fletcher, Jamaican Ambassador to the United States
  • U.S.
  • The Secretary
  • Carlyle Maw, Legal Adviser
  • Harry W. Shlaudeman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs
  • Elkin Taylor, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs

(At about 3:35 March 13, Secretary Kissinger received the group. After an exchange of greetings and some picture-taking all of the participants except for the Secretary and Prime Minister Manley left the room. At approximately 4:20 the other participants reentered the Secretary’s office and joined the conversation.)

The Secretary: The Prime Minister and I have had a very good talk, but I explained to him that I was no authority on bauxite. I told him that I have had some briefing on the principal issues, but that I had not been given a detailed analysis of the positions.

I told the Prime Minister that, first, we are in basic sympathy with his efforts to improve his country’s foreign exchange position. We recognize that there is a real problem. Secondly, we appreciate the attitude which his government has taken. We will not inevitably accept the companies’ position, but we will certainly take a very careful and sym [Page 1135] pathetic look at the Jamaican Government’s position in a cooperative spirit. Third, we agreed that we would stay in touch on this problem.

We will be making a detailed, independent analysis on the problem. The Prime Minister was so persuasive that it was all I could do to keep from accepting all of his positions. (laughter)

Prime Minister: I was warned before I came: When you say that you do not know anything about a problem, it really means that you know more about it than most people can learn in a lifetime of study. (more laughter)

The Secretary: Well, that certainly is not true in the case of bauxite. In any event, we will keep in mind that we have many common interests. We should be looking at this problem in the context of the whole of our relations. We know you are a part of the Third World and have obligations in that respect. Now perhaps we should see how the discussions go.

(turning to Mr. Maw) Have you been following this?

Mr. Maw: Yes.

The Secretary: Would you and Mr. Shlaudeman stay for a few minutes after the meeting?

Prime Minister: Well, Mr. Secretary, I really appreciate your kindness in receiving me and in hearing our case.

The Secretary: Not at all. You have presented a very effective case. It is now up to us to look at the total implications of your proposals and make a complete analysis of the situation.

(At this point the participants rose and, while exchanging greetings, began to leave the room.)

The Secretary: By the way, please give my regards to your Foreign Minister (Minister of State Dudley Thompson), whom I met in Mexico. Someone told me that there was a feeling that I was displeased by him. Really, to the contrary, I found him a very charming and interesting fellow. At least I always knew where he stood! (laughter)

(More handshakes and departure of the Jamaican participants. The meeting ended at approximately 4:25).

  1. Summary: Kissinger and Manley reviewed their private discussions on the Jamaican Government’s proposals with respect to the bauxite and alumina industry.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P820043–2156. Confidential. Drafted by Elkin Taylor in ARA. Telegrams 940 and 1047 from Kingston, March 16 and 25, reported on initial meetings between Jamaican and aluminum company representatives, noting that the corporate executives were “stunned and shocked” by the proposal that Manley transmitted to them on March 15 and that negotiations “got off to a shaky and uncertain start” on March 16. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files—Latin America, Box 786, Jamaica, Vol. I) In telegram 802 from Kingston, March 7, the Embassy transmitted Thompson’s explanation for remarks in Mexico City in February that were seen as being critical of U.S. policy. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])

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