Office of the Historian

203. Evening Report by Robert Pastor of the National Security Council Staff for the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, February 15, 1980

SUBJECT

  • Jamaica (U)

You may recall that at our conversation with Michael Manley in Miami in November, he said that he would welcome any evidence of KGB/DGI efforts to subvert his government.2 One of the items which we want to test him on is his sincerity in following up on our information. (S)

State proposes to send down two items of information to be conveyed by our Ambassador directly to him: (1) a report that some Jamaicans are working with the Cubans to transship Cuban sugar to the US; and (2) a report that some Soviet officials are targeting moderates in Manley’s party. (S)

Unless you disapprove, I believe we ought to send the cable to test Manley. (It is attached for your information,3 but you really do not need to read it.)4 (S)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country, Box 26, Jamaica, 1–2/80. Secret.↩
  2. See Document 200.↩
  3. Not attached.↩
  4. Brzezinski checked the approve option. In a memorandum to Brzezinski and Aaron on March 19, Pastor expressed reservations about the Department of State’s plan to test Manley, stating that such a test “would only intensify Manley’s paranoia.” Brzezinski agreed to turn off the démarche. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country, Chron, Box 23, Folder: Jamaica, 1980) On March 29, the Department instructed the Embassy to refrain from raising the issue with Manley “at this time.” (Telegram 83180 to Kingston, March 29; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800158–0116)↩