Protesters Demand Removal of U.S. Ambassador During Andrew Young Visit to Suriname

Public sign at 1977 reception criticizes ambassador’s leadership style, bypassing diplomatic channels to appeal to…

Date: Circa 1977-1978

During a high-profile visit to Suriname by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, a public protest was staged calling for the removal of the resident U.S. Ambassador, J. Owen Zurhellen Jr., highlighting the deep unpopularity of the American envoy in the early post-independence period.

Details:

  • The U.S. Ambassador, J. Owen Zurhellen Jr. (tenure: 1976-1978), was described by colleagues as having a "difficult personality" and being widely disliked. He reportedly only accepted the post after several other candidates had refused it.
  • Andrew Young visited Suriname as part of his diplomatic initiative to engage with smaller, often-overlooked nations.
  • During a reception hosted for Ambassador Young by Ambassador Zurhellen, a large sign was displayed across the road from the event.
  • According to secondhand reports from U.S. officials on the ground, the sign bore a message aimed directly at the visiting dignitary, to the effect of: "Mr. Young… Please remove your ambassador."

Significance: This incident provides a vivid snapshot of local sentiment towards the U.S. representation in the years immediately following Suriname's independence. It demonstrates a notable level of public discontent directed not at U.S. policy broadly, but specifically at the personality and conduct of the U.S. Ambassador. The fact that protestors used the visit of a prominent, high-level African American diplomat like Andrew Young to air their grievances suggests they saw a unique opportunity to bypass the local embassy and make their appeal heard at a higher level of the U.S. government.

Source:

"Interview with Earl Kessler." Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST), Foreign Affairs Oral History Project, February 23, 2012.

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