Office of the Historian

188. Memorandum of Conversation1

Washington, January 23, 1967, 11:53 a.m.–12:24 p.m.

PARTICIPANTS

  • The President
  • Ambassador Garcia Godoy—Dominican Republic
  • Assistant Secretary of State Lincoln Gordon
  • Mr. William G. Bowdler

Ambassador Garcia Godoy opened the conversation by expressing deep appreciation for the Presidentʼ taking the time from his busy schedule to receive him. The President replied that both had shared some difficult moments almost two years ago, and that he was pleased to have this opportunity to speak with the Ambassador.

Garcia Godoy said that he had returned over the weekend from the Dominican Republic. On this trip he had found a noticeable improvement in the political and economic climate in his country. There was, he said, a new sense of confidence and forward movement, particularly noticeable in the business community. Garcia Godoy went on to say that the main purpose of his wishing to see the President was to request special consideration in the allocation of sugar deficits. He noted that the Dominican Republic faced three principal economic problems:

1.
Rationalization of the sugar industry which is underway;
2.
Serious unemployment, which must be reduced if the Dominican Republic is to achieve social and political stability; and
3.
The need to count on an assured higher sugar quota over a period of years on which the government could base its economic planning.

The President stated that we were pleased by the progress which President Balaguer had made during the first six months and wished to be of continued help to the extent that we could. The President recalled that he had authorized giving the Dominican Republic the Panamanian and Philippine shortfalls last year. We are not sure what the deficit situation, if any, would be this year. The Ambassador should keep in touch with Mr. Gordon, whose recommendations he would consider carefully.

William G. Bowdler 2
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Dominican Republic, Vol. XVII. Confidential. The meeting was held in the Oval Office. (Johnson Library, Presidentʼ Daily Diary) The time of the meeting is from the Presidentʼ Daily Diary.↩
  2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩