196. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance1
SUBJECT
- Jamaica (U)
The President has read Ambassador Lawrence’s cable concluding that Prime Minister Manley’s decision to align Jamaica with Cuba and the Soviet Union necessitates the implementation of an effective program to slow him down or reverse this course.2 Lawrence noted that this could involve changes in our AID program and speaking candidly on investment and tourism to a broad spectrum of interested persons as well as a review of some of our other programs. (S/S)
In response to this cable, the President directed “Let’s do this.” The Department of State should implement the President’s instruction and inform the President of measures taken. (C)
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country, Box 26, Jamaica, 10–11/79. Secret; Sensitive.↩
- Reference is to telegram 7170 from Kingston, October 2, in which Lawrence noted Manley’s alignment of Jamaican policies with those of Cuba and the Soviet Union and argued that “we need to show our displeasure in a way that stands a chance of slowing him down or reversing this course,” including changes in the U.S. aid program and “blunt speaking” on investment and tourism. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])↩