328. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (Carlucci) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron), the Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State (Habib), and the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Newsom)1

SUBJECT

  • Presidential Finding on Grenada

1. The Presidential Finding on Grenada was signed on 3 July 1979.2 As a result of State Department reservations and opposition expressed [Page 803] by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a mini-SCC meeting was held on 27 July 1979 in which the Grenada CA Project was reviewed.3 It was decided that the political action aspect of the project would be put in a holding pattern with minimum dispersal of funds for the time being. It was agreed that the project would be reviewed again after the return of Ambassador Philip Habib from his Caribbean trip in late August 1979.4

2. It has been more than one month since Ambassador Habib has returned and presented his report. In the absence of such a review or of new instructions, this Agency feels obliged to implement the finding, including providing financial support [1½ lines not declassified] Should there be members of the SCC who are opposed to the Agency carrying out this operation, we suggest another SCC meeting be called to provide new instructions to the Agency.5

Frank C. Carlucci 6
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 27, Grenada 1/77–1/81 through India 3–9/78. Secret; Sensitive.
  2. See Document 325.
  3. Minutes of the July 27 mini-SCC meeting were not found.
  4. Habib visited the Caribbean from August 12 to 23. He did not visit Grenada, although he noted in his report that Maurice Bishop’s government received support from Jamaica. (Telegram 231487 to London, September 1; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790400–0415) See also Document 368.
  5. The Department of State continued to object to the CIA’s proposed covert action. In an October 15 memorandum to Newsom, Bowdler labeled the planned action as “likely to be detected in a relatively short period” and noted “very strong opposition to [the action] in the Senate Select Committee.” (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Africa, Latin America, Interagency Intelligence Committees, Grenada 1979–80) On October 14, Winston Whyte was arrested by Grenadian officials and linked to a plot to overthrow the government. (Telegram 4597 from Bridgetown, November 5; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790509–0424) INR officials then urged that the CIA’s action be considered overtaken by events. (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Africa, Latin America, Interagency Intelligence Committees, Grenada 1979–80)
  6. Printed from a copy with this typed signature.