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

351. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Vaughn) to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Mann)¹

Washington, January 5, 1966.

SUBJECT

• Contingency and Policy Planning on Haiti

Our present contingency plans for Haiti are currently valid. The longer Duvalier remains in power, however, the less will be the potential influence of Haitian exiles. In a chaotic situation even several years hence, these exiles could provide some personnel for a provisional government, but forming a permanent stable government from exiles will be most difficult if Duvalier remains in power another year or more. To form the basis of a stable successor government, therefore, we will have to rely largely upon Haitians who remain in Haiti, including those presently in Duvalierʼs entourage.

Our review of the Haitian situation suggests a need to shift our tactics in an attempt to build some assets in Haiti. We believe this should be done indirectly through an expansion of U.S. voluntary agency programs, the Inter-American Bank, etc. A revised LAPC paper is being prepared.²

If one or more members of Duvalierʼs regime prove unable to seize and hold power following Duvalierʼs departure from office, an extended period of anarchy and chaos is likely to result, inviting a Communist bid for power. In order to restore law and order no effective means other than intervention with U.S. military forces would be available to us unless by that time a permanent Inter-American Peace Force had been organized and made ready to function promptly. We doubt that an IAPF will be effective in time for a Haitian crisis and consequently the present contingency plans in this respect remain applicable.³

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 1 HAI-US. Secret. Drafted by Osborne (ARA/CAR). A note in Mannʼs handwriting in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum reads: “Jack-Hope you will have a talk with the Secy soon about Haiti on a) your plans for CARE, the Israelis, possibly the Mexicans, Venezuelans, and Colombians and b) the possibility of a US base of some kind.”
2. See Document 352.
3. A January 25 memorandum from Vaughn to Mann reported that a new contingency plan for Haiti was being drafted. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 1 HAI-US)