LETTER TO THOMAS P. O NEILL JR. FROM RONALD REAGAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001502590089-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 2008
• Sequence Number: 89
• Publication Date: October 25, 1983
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/06/11 :CIA-RDP85M00364R001502590089-6
THE VgIM1TE HOUSE
WA3H114GTON
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~~ ~ Clctober 25, 1993
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'~ Dear Mr. Speaiker:
~} cln October 12 ~ a v jiolen~; series of events in Grenada was set in
~ motion, which led ~;o th~~ murder of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop
and a number rnf his Cab net colleagues, as well as the dleaths _of
.; a number of civilians. -Over 40 killings were reported. There
'was no govern;~ent w~nsur Ong the protection of life and property
'l!and restoring law :snd order. The only indication of autharity
;I was an announcement: the ~ a barbaric shoot-to-kii2 curfew a~as in
~i effect. Under the~~e circumstances, we were necessarily concerned
'~ about the safety o1= inn,~cent lines on the island, incluliing those
;; of up to 1,000 United States citizens.
,+
;~ The organization o;6 Eastern Caribbean States ,(OECS) bec~zae
?~seriou~ly concerned by the deteriorating conditions in the member
' State of Grenada. The :ether toembers of the OECS are Antigua,
I Y}ominica, Montserr;3t, S t. Kitts/l~evis; Saint Lucia, and Saint
~i Vincent and the Gr~_nadipes. We were formally advised that the
` Authority of Heads of G~verruaent of Member States of the Q#CS,
ii acting pursuant to the~~reaty establishing the OECS, met in
iemergency session ~~n October 21. The meeting took note of the
.!anarchic condition; and the serious violations of human rights
;~ and bloodshed that had pccurred, and the consequent uhprectdented
threat to the peace and security of the region created by the
~~ vacuum of authorit,~ in Grenada. The OECS determined to take im--
,~ mediate, necessary steps to restore order in Grenada sa a$ t:o pr~-
; teet against ~Eurth;er loss. of life, pending the restoration of
i effective gov~rnme,ntal institutions. To this end, the 4ECS ?ortaed
~i a collective security force comprising elements from meatber
~j States to ree+tore ;Arder in Grenada and requested the immediate .
:i cooperation c~:E a number of friendly countries, includinr~ the
;; governments ci~E Barbados, Jamaica and the United .States, 3tt these
~~ efforts. In xesponse to this calf. for assistance anr3 in viek of
the overridir,; importance of protracting the lives of the ilnited
!) States citizef~is in Grenada, I have authorised the Armed Forces of
~; the United St;~tes to participate along with these other nations
;~ in this colle;~tive security force.
?~ In accordance~A with my desire that the Congress be infort-ed an this
matter, and consistent with the i~ar Powers Resolution, Ian pro-
:; viding this :report on this deployment of United States Armed
~; Forces.
;~
_ Approved For Release 2008/06/11 :CIA-RDP85M00364R001502590089-6 _
 Approved For Release 2008/06/11 :CIA-RDP85M00364R001502590089-6
S iAC~r~~7~ o
Today at about 5:00 AM E~~stern Daylight Time, approximately 1,900
United States ~'rmy ~;nd [Iifited States Marine Corps personnel began.
landinr~ ire. Grenar3a. The,t were- supported by elements of tie
i7nited States navy ~,nd t~je United States Air Force. 3~'?t~mb~.-s
States of the ()ECS along with Jaauaica and Barbados are providing
approximately :}00 p~rrson~~el. This deployment of United Statea
Armed Forcta i:~ beir-g un