Office of the Historian

269. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Cleveland) to the Representative to the United Nations (Stevenson)1

Washington, March 9, 1962.

Dear Adlai: We had hoped to brief you during your visit to Washington March 8 on all aspects of our present thinking about British Guiana as you requested in your letter of February 26 to the Secretary.2 The Secretary plans to discuss this delicate problem with Lord Home in Geneva. Until we know the outcome of this discussion and have learned of the results of the on-the-spot survey which Hugh Fraser, Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Colonial Office, is making we will not reach any final policy decisions. CIA, by the way, was in no way involved in the recent disturbances in Georgetown.

We are bringing again to the Secretary’s attention your pertinent comments about the effects of actions we might take on the position at the UN.

[Page 553]

On your next trip down I hope we will have a chance to fill you in completely on this rapidly moving situation.

Sincerely,

Harlan Cleveland3
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, British Guiana II. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Burdett.↩
  2. Document 265.↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩