Office of the Historian

214. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter1

Washington, October 14, 1980

SUBJECT

  • Letter to Michael Manley (U)

I was prepared to draft a brief response for you to send to Manley, but then read his letter to you again and realized that his letter deserved more than a brief response. His is a perceptive letter which succinctly describes your appeal to the Third World and then identifies three tasks for you to address early in your second term—a summit on North-South relations in Mexico, Namibia and Cuba.2 (S)

I believe that you should reply with an agenda of your own—one which aims at the perceptual and the attitudinal gap between the developed and developing worlds. Manley is an idealistic individual; while not always sincere or honest, he is capable of acknowledging that when one points this out to him. The three issues noted in your letter not only have important implications for the future of the North-South dialogue, but they also have a special resonance for Manley and Jamaica. (S)

One of the integral elements of the campaign which his political party (PNP) has been waging is crude and vicious anti-Americanism: the radicals in his party continually harp on CIA de-stabilization of Jamaica; or Seaga, Manley’s opponent, as a reactionary US puppet; or imperialism as the source of Jamaica’s problems. While Manley also often repeats the anti-imperialist theme, he is not personally engaged in this campaign; nonetheless, as the leader of his party, he must take some responsibility for it. The CIA believes that he is either acquiescing or directing the campaign. Thus, your first question strikes near to home. (S)

The second and third questions—on Cuba and on the implications of Third World rhetoric—also touch on sensitive issues. Nonetheless, I believe that Manley will take your questions seriously, and perhaps in searching for answers, he may recognize the dilemma he poses for [Page 515] us, or perhaps he may shed some light on why our perceptions are so different. (S)

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend you sign the letter at Tab A because I really believe it could deepen the dialogue. However, I have prepared a second brief response at Tab B should you prefer to send that.3 (C)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country, Box 26, Jamaica, 10–12/80. Secret. Sent for action. Carter initialed the memorandum.↩
  2. Manley’s letter is attached but not printed. The three tasks he outlined were: 1) the sources and reasons for anti-Americanism in the Third World, 2) why Third World leaders were attracted to the Cuban model, and 3) meshing the debates of economic issues in developing and industrialized countries.↩
  3. Both Tabs are attached but not printed. Carter signed the letter at Tab B.↩