Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, Volume XXIII, Mexico, Cuba, and the Caribbean

188. Memorandum From the Staff Secretary of the National Security Council (Dodson) to the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Tarnoff)¹

Washington, October 3, 1978

SUBJECT

• State-Commerce Report on its Investment Mission to Jamaica

We have reviewed the report which you submitted on August 25, 1978 on the State-Commerce investment mission to Jamaica.² We would like your recommendation on whether the President should follow up his conversation of last December with Prime Minister Manley with a letter highlighting certain aspects of the team’s report. We are attaching a draft of such a letter and would like your comments on that as well. Also, we would like your recommendation on whether the President should also attach a brief summary of the report for the Prime Minister’s use, and if so, could you please provide that.

Christine Dodson
Staff Secretary

Attachment

Draft Letter From President Carter to Jamaican Prime Minister Manley ³

Washington, October 2, 1978

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

When you and I met in Washington last December, we discussed at some length the question of the Jamaican investment climate and steps that might be taken to stimulate increased private investment in Jamaica.⁴

The U.S. Government investment team, whose visit resulted from our discussion, has now reported to me, and I want to share its findings with you. The team reports that both foreign and Jamaican private investors are reluctant to make investments because they perceive that the government is either uninterested in, or negative toward, such investment. Furthermore, the report finds that various government regulations also discourage private investment.

Because private investment, both domestic and foreign, will undoubtedly be important in Jamaica’s long-term economic recovery, I felt I should share these observations with you. There is little that my government can do to alter the perception of Jamaica’s investment climate. This is, of course, a matter for your government to consider without interference. But if you wish, we would be ready to help your Embassy in Washington contact appropriate U.S. business organizations to invite them to explore the opportunities available in Jamaica.⁵

Sincerely,

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 40, Jamaica, 1/77–10/79 through Japan, 6–12/78. No classification marking.
2. Arellano, along with representatives from the Department of Commerce, visited Jamaica from July 25 to July 28. Their report, which was critical of the state apparatus in Jamaica, is attached to an August 25 memorandum from Tarnoff to Brzezinski. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country, Box 25, Jamaica, 8–12/78)
3. No classification marking.
4. See Document 184.
5. The suggested letter was not sent. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P780174–1809) Since Ambassador Irving left post on November 22 (Ambassador Loren Lawrence presented his credentials on April 12, 1979), the Chargé d’Affaires, Roy Haverkamp, was instructed to convey the message to Manley orally in December. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 40, Jamaica, 1/77–10/79 through Japan, 6–12/78)