Consul LaRoche Meets Grenadian Revolutionary Leadership in First Policy Discussion

New government signals openness to Western economic ties while demanding U.S. distance from ousted leader Gairy.

Date: March 16, 1979

Consul LaRoche Participates in First Substantive Meeting with New Grenadian Leadership

Details: Consul LaRoche reported on a two-hour meeting he and his British and Canadian counterparts had with the leadership of the new revolutionary government, including Maurice Bishop, Bernard Coard, and Unison Whiteman. LaRoche described the meeting as "extremely relaxed and free-wheeling" and noted there was "no evidence of hostility to U.S.".

In the meeting, Prime Minister Bishop outlined his government's initial policy direction. He stated their foreign policy would focus on regional issues, especially CARICOM ; their economic policy would be based on the "three pillars" of fishing, tourism, and farming, for which they would seek assistance from the U.S., UK, and Canada ; and their first priority was to overhaul the electoral system.

The only point of apparent annoyance came when Bernard Coard expressed frustration that the deposed leader, Eric Gairy, was "making threats from U.S.". The Grenadian leaders requested a "firm statement" from the U.S. distancing itself from Gairy. LaRoche delivered a pre-authorized statement, but it was clear the Grenadian leaders did not feel it was "'firm' enough". Bishop reiterated this annoyance, stating they were aware Gairy was telephoning Grenada from the U.S. seeking support. The Grenadian leaders also reiterated their assurances regarding the safety of U.S. citizens and their property.

Key Members & Participants:

  • U.S. Official:
    • Consul Richard LaRoche: U.S. representative in the meeting.
  • Grenadian Officials:
    • Maurice Bishop (Prime Minister).
    • Bernard Coard.
    • Unison Whiteman.
    • Hudson Austin (Commander in Chief of Defense Force).
    • George Louison.
  • Other Diplomats:
    • Representative Gaye (United Kingdom).
    • Representative Davis (Canada).

Significance: This meeting represents the first substantive policy discussion between the new Grenadian government and the primary Western powers. LaRoche's detailed reporting provided Washington with its first direct insight into the regime's stated foreign, economic, and domestic policy intentions. The meeting established a key point of friction that would persist in U.S.-Grenada relations: the new government's fear of a counter-coup led by Eric Gairy from U.S. soil. Their dissatisfaction with the initial U.S. statement on the matter signaled an early diplomatic challenge. The regime's explicit request for economic assistance from the U.S., UK, and Canada, combined with their non-hostile attitude, indicated an initial desire for a pragmatic, rather than purely ideological, relationship with the West.

Source:

U.S. Embassy Bridgetown Cable 00982, "DEVELOPMENTS IN GRENADA," March 16, 1979, Declassified. (Document ID C17671058.pdf).

Link:

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979BRIDGE00982_a.html

Internal Link:

Date:
March 16, 1979
Categories:
Diplomacy, Greneda Invasion, Log, Matthew Smith, Military & Intel, The Suriname Archive
Tags:
Cable, Consul Richard LaRoche, Coup, Diplomacy, George Louison, Grenadian Officials, Hudson Austin, Intelligence Reporting, Other Diplomats, Representative Davis, Representative Gaye, U.S. Official, Unison Whiteman
Boxes:
MW Zotero
Years:
1979
Persons:
Bernard Coard, Eric Gairy, Maurice Bishop, Richard Laroche
META DATA
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