GRENADA PUBLIC DIPLOMACY THEMES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001502590073-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Sequence Number: 73
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/01/29: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502590073-3
1800 10/28 43125P (PPc)
GRENADA PUBLIC DIPLOMACY THEMES
Basic Situation
-- The U.S. is cooperating with six Caribbean nations -- Jamaica,
Barbados, Antigua, Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent (the last four
members of the organization of Eastern Caribbean States - OECS) to
protect lives and restore order in Grenada.
-- This collective effort has military and political dimensions. U.S.
is necessarily key to the military aspects; just as importantly, the
Caribbean nations are. key to the political aspects -- setting up.a
provisional government under law.
-- Inaction would have aggravated the situation and increased the
dangers to foreign nationals and regional peace.
U.S. troops will leave as soon as possible. We cannot yet predict
how soon that will be.
Political Aspects
-- The murder of Prime Minister Bishop and his colleagues led to the
disintegration of effective government in Grenada.
Caribbean leaders believed that Bishop was eliminated because he
might have held elections and led a democratic opening that could have
reduced the island's growing militarization under Cuban control.
-- Judging that this situation constituted an immediate threat to their
peace and security, they determined on.October 21 to act and sought our
assistance.
-- They made clear to us that they were convinced a further, violent
internal power struggle was likely, and that whatever regime emerged
would be dictatorial.
Humanitarian Concerns
-- The brutal behavior and record of members of the RMC, and the absence
of any indication that they were prepared to function as a government,
led to grave concern about the safety of the nearly 1000 Americans and
other foreigners in Grenada.
-- Our concerns for safety of U.S. citizens were heightened by a
shoot-on-sight 24-hour curfew, looting that occurred when that curfew was
temporarily lifted on Friday October 21st, and efforts by some residents
to charter boats and flee. -
Approved For Release 2008/01/29: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502590073-3
 Approved For Release 2008/01/29: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502590073-3
Strategic Aspects
-- Grenada was the, only country in the Eastern Caribbean with a- defense
(as opposed to a constabulary) force. Grenada's military forces were 5
times larger than 'Barbados's and 50% larger than Jamaica's. In addition,
Cuban armed forces had secretly established fortifications, arms. caches,
.and military communications facilities.
-- Our ability to cooperate with governments in preserving peace and
stability in a area of strategic importance to the United States.
Legal Authority
-- U.S. also acted to ensure safety of U.S. and foreign nationals --
such humanitarian actions long recognized as consistent with
international law.
-- Treaty establishing OECS is regional agreement concerned inter alia
with collective security. OECS members are not parties to Rio Treaty;
OECS Treaty is in effect their collective security agreement.
-- The Governor General of Grenada made a confidential direct appeal to
the OECS to take action to restore order on the island. . As the sole.
remaining authoritative representative of government on Grenada, his
appeal for action carried exceptional moral and legal weight.
-- Article 8 of OECS Treaty authorizes coordination for collective
defense, and was basis for unanimous Oct. 23 request for outside aid.
-- OAS Charter Articles 22 (maintenance of peace and security) and 28
(situation endangering peace of America) allow collective measures
pursuant to collective security agreements. (UN Article 52 expressly
authorizes such arrangements).
-- Under OAS Article 22, such measures are not violations of Article 18
and 20 prohibitions against intervention and use of force. .
-- Action was taken to restore order, not dictate political system (not
analogous to Brezhnev Doctrine of perpetuating "socialist'" governments).
Current Military and Political Situation
-- The Governor-General of Grenada is unharmed, and using his authority
as the last remaining Constitutional official to work with the OECS to
restore order and develop functioning institutions.
-- Organized Cuban resistance is the major factor in delaying
termination of military phase and.beginning of the political phase..
-- Evacuation of foreign nationals continues. The accounts of
conditions in Grenada and praise for their rescuers by those who have
reached the U.S. speak for themselves.
Approved For Release 2008/01/29: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502590073-3