Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXXII, Dominican Republic; Cuba; Haiti; Guyana

338. Airgram From the Embassy in Haiti to the Department of State¹

A–332

Port-au-Prince, February 24, 1965.

SUBJECT

• Results in 1964 of the Application of United States Policies toward Haiti

1. Introduction and Summary—The purpose of this airgram is to analyze briefly the results in the calendar year 1964 of the application of United States Government policies toward Haiti, especially in two key areas—the specific requests that the United States Government made to the Haitian Government in matters of substantial bilateral or multilateral concern, and the requests of the same nature that the Haitian Government made to the United States Government. As will be indicated below, the Haitian Government responded affirmatively to all such requests made by the United States Government (except in one case—the suspension of an expulsion order against an American citizen), while at the same time the United States Government, in accord with the established policy, successfully rejected all Haitian requests and maneuvers to obtain the resumption of United States economic and military assistance to Haiti.

2. Basic United States Policy toward Haiti—The elements of United States policy toward Haiti for the immediate and short-run future, as set out in the currently applicable Policy Paper entitled “Haiti—Plan of Action for Period Beginning May 1, 1964,”² prepared by the Embassy and ARA/CAR and approved by the Latin America Policy Committee on May 21, 1964, may be summarized as follows:

(a) To maintain a substantial United States presence in Haiti (defined as being an Ambassador and an adequate Embassy staff) so as to be able to influence the situation when the inevitable change in regime occurs, either through Duvalierʼs death or through his assassination or deposition, and to deny Haiti to the Communists.

(b) Meanwhile, to give no aid or support to Duvalier through resumption of United States economic or military assistance, and to frustrate his efforts to buy arms in the United States or other countries.

(c) To influence the Haitian Government to support United States positions on matters of bilateral or multilateral concern (such as in the OAS, UN and specialized international agencies).

(d) To protect the substantial number of United States citizens resident in Haiti (over 1,000) and the large United States investments here (estimated at more than $60 million), and to collect the debts owed by Haiti to the United States Government and to United States citizens and firms.

[Omitted here is discussion of major requests for and by the Haitian Government.]

6. Conclusions—

In terms of the four major objectives set out in Paragraph 2 above, the following conclusions may be drawn:

(a) During the period under review the desired United States presence in Haiti was maintained, and two attempts by the Haitian Government (in December, 1963 and January, 1964) to bring about the withdrawal of three key Embassy officers (Army Attaché, Chief of Political Section, and Public Affairs Officer) were decisively defeated. I made clear to the Haitian Foreign Minister in January, 1964 (a month after my arrival here) that the Haitian Government was naturally free to declare these officers persona non grata, but in that case the United States Government would retaliate against Haitian Government personnel in the United States on a one-for-one basis. The Haitian Government dropped the matter.

(b) All Haitian Government efforts to obtain the resumption of United States economic and military assistance were successfully rejected.

(c) The Haitian Government agreed to support United States Government positions on all matters of substantial bilateral and multilateral concern, and this was accomplished without the resumption of United States assistance.

(d) Except in the case of Bishop Voegeli, United States citizens and investments here were successfully protected.

Benson E. L. Timmons

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 1 HAI–US. Secret. Drafted and approved by Timmons; cleared by Curtis, Political Counselor Warner, Economic Counselor Breaux, Military Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Warren, USIS Attaché Moss, and Consul General Maule.
2. For the draft version, see Document 329.