Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XII, American Republics

340. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, April 2, 1962, 3:30-4:22 p.m.

SUBJECT

• The Secretary’s Conversation with Dr. Jose A. Bonilla Atiles, Dominican Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

PARTICIPANTS

• The Secretary
• Dr. Jose A. Bonilla Atiles, Dominican Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Mr. Edwin Martin, Assistant Secretary, ARA
• Mr. C. P. Torrey, O-in-C, Dominican Republic Affairs, CMA

The Secretary opened the conversation by expressing his appreciation for Dr. Bonilla’s helpful position at the Eighth Meeting of Foreign Ministers and Punta del Este and for his more recent initiative in the OAS which resulted in a Resolution calling for fair treatment for the Cuban prisoners captured following the April 17, 1961 invasion of Cuba. Dr. Bonilla stated that he felt it was his duty to initiate action on the latter point and that he intends to try to obtain the same resolution at the United Nations. He said these efforts would be based on humanitarian rather than political grounds. The Secretary commented that Dr. Bonilla’s efforts in the UN would be more difficult because of the Afro-Asian countries which have little interest in or do not understand the Cuban problem.

Dr. Bonilla brought up the question of the return to the Dominican Republic of the $22 million in fees levied by the United States against the importation of Dominican sugar in 1960-61 stating that the Dominican Government is under heavy pressure from the Dominican leftists concerning these fees. The Secretary and Mr. Martin explained that the return of the money was complicated by the law suits pending against the United States Government. They stated, however, that the return of the fees was under study and that the money may be made available to the Dominican Government from FY 1963 AID funds.

Dr. Bonilla inquired about the status of the soft-goods which the United States had promised to provide the Dominican armed forces. It was explained to Dr. Bonilla that the shipment was at present in New Jersey awaiting shipment and that it should arrive in the Dominican Republic in a very short time.

The Secretary and Dr. Bonilla discussed briefly the situation in Haiti and Haitian-Dominican relations. Dr Bonilla stated that the situation in Haiti is serious and that the activities of Haitian President Duvalier and former Trujillistas in Haiti are a source of great concern to the Dominican Government. Dr. Bonilla said that he is thinking of taking the Haitian problem to the OAS Human Rights Commission but that he would do nothing until the United States has had a chance to consider the situation. The Secretary agreed that the conditions in Haiti are not satisfactory and said that the Department is now studying the situation.

On the general political and economic situation in the Dominican Republic, Dr. Bonilla stated that conditions are slowly improving. He said that the morale of the armed forces is better and that jobs are becoming available to civilians. He said that he wanted the Secretary to understand the problems involved in holding elections in December of this year as now scheduled. Dr. Bonilla said that there are now five main political parties in the Dominican Republic—the National Civic Union, the Dominican Revolutionary Party, the 14th of June Party, Dominican Revolutionary Vanguard, and the Revolutionary Social Christian Party—in addition to about fifteen other smaller parties none of which are well organized. He said that most of the parties realize that fair and democratic elections cannot be held this year. He has been authorized by the Council of State to request the same OAS Electoral Committee which visited the Dominican Republic last fall to advise on whether the necessary conditions can be established in time to hold elections this year. He said the Council of State is willing to follow the advice of the Electoral Committee. Dr. Bonilla stated his belief that national elections should be postponed for at least one year to enable elections to be held first for municipal and provincial offices and thereby establish a firm base for a true democracy.

1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 65 D 330. Confidential. Drafted by Torrey and approved in S on April 13. The time of the meeting is taken from Rusk’s Appointment Book. (Johnson Library)