Consul LaRoche Establishes First U.S. Diplomatic Presence in Post-Coup Grenada

First on-the-ground U.S. reporting arrives within 48 hours, showing calm security situation and cooperative new regime.

Date: March 14, 1979

U.S. Consul Richard LaRoche Arrives in Grenada, Provides First On-the-Ground U.S. Reporting Post-Coup

Details: Following the aborted air travel the previous day, Consul Richard LaRoche successfully arrived in St. George's harbor at 10:40 a.m. aboard a Barbados Coast Guard vessel, establishing the first official U.S. presence on the island since the coup. He was met by a four-man committee from the new government, and Maurice Bishop himself boarded the vessel to personally provide assurances that LaRoche could travel anywhere on the island.

LaRoche stressed that his mission was "PURELY ON CONSULAR BUSINESS AND WISHED UNHINDERED ACCESS TO ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS TO ASSURE THEIR SAFETY". He then provided the embassy with its first direct intelligence from the ground, reporting on his conversation with Bishop about the new government's "socialist" ideology, its economic plans, and its intention to overhaul the electoral process. He also relayed tactical observations on the revolutionary forces' eclectic uniforms and mix of weaponry. Critically, LaRoche reported that the situation was calm, with "NO RPT NO PANIC OF ANY KIND AMONG CITIZENRY OR FOREIGNERS," and that tourists were "LOUNGING ON BEACHES".

Key Members & Participants:

  • U.S. Official:
    • Consul Richard LaRoche: U.S. Embassy officer providing first-hand reporting from Grenada.
  • Grenadian Officials:
    • Maurice Bishop: Head of the new government who personally met with LaRoche and provided assurances.
    • Bernard Coard: Senior member of the committee that met LaRoche's vessel.

Significance: This event marks the successful establishment of a U.S. diplomatic presence in Grenada less than 48 hours after the coup, with Consul LaRoche serving as the primary source of on-the-ground intelligence. His initial reporting provided a crucial early assessment of the new regime, its leadership, and, most importantly, the security situation for American citizens. LaRoche's report that the situation was calm and non-threatening to foreigners provided an essential piece of information that would shape the immediate U.S. policy response, de-escalating concerns of imminent danger. The direct and cooperative engagement between Bishop and LaRoche shows the new government's initial desire to maintain a working, non-hostile relationship with the United States.

Source:

U.S. Embassy Bridgetown Cable 00897, "GRENADA COUP," March 14, 1979, Declassified. (Document ID C17671017.pdf).

Link:

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979BRIDGE00897_a.html

Internal Link:

Date:
March 14, 1979
Categories:
Greneda Invasion, Log, Matthew Smith, Military & Intel, The Suriname Archive
Tags:
Bernard Coard, Cable, Consul Richard LaRoche, Consular Affairs, Coup, Grenadian Officials, Intelligence Reporting, U.S. Official
Boxes:
MW Zotero
Years:
1979
Persons:
Maurice Bishop, Richard Laroche
META DATA
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