737.39/1–2449
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Caribbean Affairs (Walker)
The Cuban Minister of State, Señor Carlos Hevia, informed me that he was becoming increasingly disgusted and annoyed with the attitude of the Dominican Republic toward Cuba. He went on to explain that in his opinion the Cayo Confites matter2 was a closed incident, since the Cuban Government in fulfillment of its international obligations had broken up the revolutionary movement. He said that unless the Dominican Government has some issues to present and that so far they had presented none, there was absolutely no need for any bilateral negotiations between the two governments. In this connection, he stated that the last note received from the Dominican Government concerning its desire to undertake negotiations was discourteous and offensive. He remarked that his first reaction on the receipt of the note was to return it unanswered, but that as a gesture of courtesy to the Committee of Five3 it was decided to acknowledge the communication.
The Minister then referred to the press attacks against President Prio4 and the Cuban Government appearing in the controlled Dominican press which he said reflects the views of the Dominican Government, and also to the restrictions governing the entry of Cuban citizens into the Dominican Republic. With regard to the latter difficulty, he said that these restrictions virtually prohibit Cubans from going into the Dominican Republic, but that, on the other hand, Dominican citizens are freely permitted to enter Cuba and are subject [Page 438] to no onerous restrictions. He said that unless the Dominican Government changes its attitude, Cuba might give serious consideration to closing its Legation in Ciudad Trujillo.
I took occasion to inform the Minister that it was my understanding that one of the issues relating to the Cayo Confites matter involved a schooner which the Dominicans allege was seized by the revolutionaries and is still in the custody of the Cuban Government. I then inquired whether the Cuban Government had taken any steps to return this vessel to its owners. The Minister seemed to be unacquainted with this issue and said that he would look into the matter. I remarked that I had previously discussed this particular matter with Ambassador Güell5 who seemed to be familiar with it. I added that Ambassador Güell was of the definite opinion that the schooner in question had been seized by a unit of the Cuban Navy because the vessel was flying no flag and the members of the crew had no Merchant Marine identification papers. Dr. Güell seemed to feel that the Cuban Government would be glad to give consideration to the return of the vessel to the Dominican owners provided satisfactory evidence of ownership was presented. I remarked that an issue of this sort might be resolved through bilateral negotiations between the two governments. The Minister said that he would look into the matter on his return to Cuba.
- Documentation on this subject is included in the compilation dealing with the United States policy on non-intervention in Dominican political affairs in ibid., 1947, volume viii .↩
- i.e., the Inter-American Committee on Methods for the Peaceful Solution of Conflicts, which changed its name on July 6, 1949 to the Inter-American Peace Committee.↩
- Carlos Prío Socarrás, President of the Republic of Cuba.↩
- Gonzalo Güell, Cuban Representative to the OAS and Special Assistant to the Cuban Minister of State.↩