Office of the Historian

190. Letter From Director of Central Intelligence Turner to the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (Murphy)1

Washington, June 13, 1979
Dear Dan:

Your letter of 6 June reflects my feelings concerning the apparent increase in influence of the KGB and the DGI over Jamaica Prime Minister Michael Manley.2 Similar concern has been expressed in the [Page 472] Bureau of Inter-American Affairs at the Department of State and by Ambassador Lawrence in Kingston.3 (S)

The Agency has closely watched the expansion of KGB and DGI activities in Jamaica since the original sensitive source reports were received [less than 1 line not declassified]. Based to a significant extent upon these sensitive source reports as well as Embassy Kingston reporting, I briefed President Carter concerning these developments, as well as other developments in the Caribbean, on 3 May 1979.4 The Department of State is now in the process of an appraisal of U.S. policy vis-a-vis Cuban and Soviet activities in the Caribbean as a whole. (S)

I agree with you that under the Presidential Findings on Cuban and Soviet intervention,5 we have authority to publicize and criticize this Soviet and Cuban intervention in the Caribbean. The Agency has already initiated a media campaign in selected countries to emphasize the undesirable effects of these moves by the Soviets and the Cubans. In addition, selected CIA Stations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean have been authorized to brief their intelligence service counterparts concerning the significance of these activities. I appreciate your offer of help and will call upon you for assistance if an expansion of this campaign is considered desirable. (S)

Yours,

Stansfield Turner6
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81M00919R: Executive Registry Subject Files (1976–1979), Box 13, Folder 34: C–361 Jamaica. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by [name not declassified] on June 12; concurred in by Stein on June 12.↩
  2. In his letter, Murphy cited reports of a rise in Manley’s contacts with the KGB and the DGI. Murphy suspected Manley was using foreign intelligence personnel to enhance the PNP’s agency within Jamaica. (Ibid.)↩
  3. In telegram 4149 from Kingston, June 11, the Embassy expressed a point of view that appears to run counter to Turner’s assertions. In the telegram, Lawrence expressed skepticism about the degree of DGI infiltration in the Jamaican Government, and pointed out Seaga’s and the JLP’s vested interest in exaggerating such connections. Lawrence quoted political scientist Carl Stone who wrote, “those facts and the supporting facts advanced by Mr. Seaga [about organizational upgrading of Cuban intelligence in the country] do not add up to evidence to support his inference that the country is in danger of Communist inspired and Cuban-supported subversion.” Stone concluded, “I have to wonder whether we are not again being prevailed upon by skillfully orchestrated party propaganda.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790265–0193) Telegram 3965 from Kingston, June 5, reported Seaga’s charges of Soviet and Cuban infiltration. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790257–0666)↩
  4. Turner met with Carter, Mondale, and Brzezinski on May 3 from 11:20 a.m. to noon. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary) No record of the meeting has been found.↩
  5. Not found.↩
  6. Printed from a copy that indicates Turner signed the original.↩