Office of the Historian

299. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate General in Georgetown1

Washington, September 7, 1963, 2:55 p.m.

92. Re Georgetown’s 103.2 We have considered suggestion reftel for approach to Jagan for discussion USBG relationships and have concluded that disadvantages and potential misinterpretations outweigh possible advantages to US. Jagan’s alleged concern about deterioration of relations with US seems inconsistent with attacks PPP paper has been making on US and President personally in last few weeks and with series of steps resulting in closer links between BG and Cuba. We also inclined doubt there any individual or group among Jagan’s lieutenants that could command sufficient popular support seriously to challenge his control of party.

We wish to avoid creating any impression, or enabling PPP to do so, that there exists real possibility of improving relations between PPP and USG.

Accordingly, we plan adhere to guidance set forth Deptel 883 and keep contacts with Jagan at as low level as possible.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 1 BR GU-US. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to London.↩
  2. Document 297.↩
  3. Dated September 3. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 19 BR GU/UN)↩