Premier Norman Manley returned from Washington expressing optimism after holding talks with United States officials aimed at securing the continuation of America’s bauxite stockpiling programme, which had become a vital source of revenue for Jamaica. Manley said he received a sympathetic hearing on the importance of the arrangement to the island’s development, and stressed that maintaining the programme was crucial as Jamaica worked to strengthen its economy.
 

Published Monday, February 1, 1960

“I was able to secure a most sympathetic hearing of our case,” premier says

Manley ‘most hopeful’

– After bauxite mission to U.S.

– ‘Grave danger stockpiling was about to end’

THE grave danger that United States government stockpiling of Jamaican bauxite was about to come to an end was the matter which took the Premier, the Hon Norman Manley, QC, to Washington last week.
The premier went to the U.S. capital to discuss the future of this programme with U.S. State Department officials. This programme means, at present, an annual revenue of well over £3 million to the Jamaican Government, which is seeking to secure its continuance.
“I was able to secure a most sympathetic hearing of our case,” Mr. Manley said yesterday. “I am most hopeful of the ultimate result,” he added.
While in Washington, Mr Manley also discussed the future of jet plane services between United States airports and Jamaica with relevant officials.
The premier made a statement at Drumblair yesterday on his visit, a mission which has been described as “a brilliant week” for Jamaica. 
“The visit to Washington proved to have been very necessary, and I hope it will bear valuable fruit.
“The United States government has provided by law for the acquisition of certain basic raw materials which are stockpiled and held as reserve.
“These are paid for by surplus agricultural products such as wheat and corn, which are held in enormous quantities by the government. The person who delivers the raw materials has to find a market for the agricultural products. The whole programme is known as the barter stockpiling programme.
“For the four years 1958 to 1959, over four million tons of Jamaican bauxite have gone to the U.S.A. under this programme, and this has meant revenue from income tax and royalties of well over £3 million.
“There was grave danger that the programme was about to come to an end as far as our bauxite is concerned. My visit to Washington was to seek to secure its continuance and to explain why, in our development programme, bauxite revenues were vital to us.
“I was able to secure a most sympathetic hearing of our case. It was most gratifying to discover the good reputation Jamaica enjoys in the State Department, and our own vigorous and determined efforts to develop our life and economy will be powerful advocates when this question comes up for final decision in the near future. I am most hopeful of the ultimate result.
“I was also able to see the United States officials who will be going to Barbados where the conference on air transportation takes place in February.
“Both parties – England and the United States – now know very, very clearly what the Jamaican and West Indian view is and what we hope will be achieved in aid of our tourist industry by that conference.”
Arriving in Washington via New York (overnight stop) on Sunday, January 24, Mr Manley, who was accompanied by Mrs Manley and Mr Pat Burke of the Ministry of Development, began a full round of activities on Monday.
That morning, he had a meeting with top officials of the British Embassy at the Windsor Park Hotel for a general briefing. Heading the embassy team of three was Mr Peter Garren, commercial minister.

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