The White House for NSC – More on Am Citizen Welfare in Grenada
Confidential Department of State Incoming Telegram
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O 212113z Oct 83 FM Amembassy Bridgetown To Secstate Washdc Immediate 7016 Info The White House Washdc Immediate USLO Caribbean Immediate CINCLANT Norfolk VA Immediate COMUSFOR Carib Key West Immediate Amembassy Antigua Immediate Amembassy Caracas Priority Amembassy Kingston Immediate Amembassy Georgetown Immediate Amembassy Paramaribo Immediate Amembassy Port of Spain Immediate COMNAVFOR Carib Roosevelt Immediate DIA Washdc //JSA/DC-IA/CCF/DC-4// Immediate USCINCSO Quarry Heights PN Immediate USIA Washdc Immediate 1313 Amembassy Moscow Immediate USMission USUN New York Immediate FBIS Key West Immediate Amembassy Ottawa Priority Amembassy Santo Domingo Immediate Amembassy Paris Immediate Amembassy Rome Immediate Amembassy Brussels Immediate Amembassy Bonn Immediate
Confidential Section 01 of 02 Bridgetown 06492 The White House for NSC USIA for Ops Center, C, and AR
E.O. 12356: Decl 20 Oct 88 Tags: CASC, PINS, PGOV, GJ Subject: More on Am Citizen Welfare in Grenada
- Confidential – Entire text.
- Reports from Radio Free Grenada every 15-30 minutes restate that no American citizens nor foreign nationals have been harmed as a result of the violence which has taken place in Grenada. The second portion of the news release states that the Revolutionary Military Council advises that it will not allow “lies” about U.S. citizens being in danger to be used as a pretext for foreign intervention in Grenada and that the PRA and Peoples Militia will be used to resist any foreign intervention.
- Statements by the leftist United Peoples Movement in St. Vincent, the leftist Peoples Progressive Government in Guyana and the leftist Workers Party in Jamaica have all stated concern that foreign forces might use the current situation to land forces in Grenada.
- Obviously missing from the RFG announcements is any reference to Amcits having suffered no harm at all as a result of the uncertain situation in Grenada. Embassy has had conversation with the personal secretary of P.M. Adams of Barbados making inquiry as to the possible need for medical supplies in Grenada. Specifically mentioned have been ampicillin, insulin and medicine for heart disease patients. Specifics of need, how the U.S. might assist and other details are being sought from the parties involved in the discussions prior to making any decisions.
- RFG is apparently being used to pass messages to individuals as well as general information to the public at large. Heard have been requests for the manager of a local company (believed to be the Grenadian Transport Company) to contact “officials at Fort Rupert; requests for “anyone knowing the whereabouts of Mr. Paul or John Brown please tell them to call 3177”; “will the son of Mrs. Phyllis Williams please call his mother’s house”; and “the matron of the hospital has asked that all afternoon staff be alerted that transportation will be by their homes to pick them up to take them to work at the hospital”.
- There has been a report of one Amcit being taken into custody by the PRA. This has not been completely confirmed. There has been a second report of a diabetic who was unable to secure insulin supplies who fled Grenada overnight and reached safety and supplies. Another report states a lack of tetanus toxin in Grenada and a lack of nurses at the hospital because the nurses “were afraid”.
- Comment: It is believed that statements from the Grenadian RMC must be taken with a large grain of salt. It is obvious that the Caribbean leftist camp is talking a very well defined party line of PSYOPS in an attempt to obviate the need for a foreign intervention. It is also very evident that there are in fact life-threatening situations in Grenada. The earlier reports of a lack of electrical power on the island could have resulted in the loss of refrigeration and attendant loss of refrigerated medical supplies. There have been no official requests—