356. Memorandum of Conversation1
SECRETARYʼS DELEGATION TO THE TWENTY-FIRST SESSION
OF
THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
New York, September–October 1966
SUBJECT
- Bilateral Relations
PARTICIPANTS
-
US
- The Secretary
- John M. Cate, Jr. –USUN
-
Foreign
- H.E. Mr. Rene Chalmers Foreign Minister of Haiti
Foreign Minister Chalmers opened the conversation by referring to the recent meetings in Washington on August 22 and 23 between the Haitian Ambassador and representatives of CIAP and the State Department, at which it was announced Haiti was ineligible for Alliance for Progress Aid.2 He then referred to a recent meeting in Portau-Prince attended by Ambassador Timmons and Chalmers and his Deputy at which various high officials of Haiti were accused of disturbing the good atmosphere of Haitian-American relationships. Chalmers stated that he had prepared a special Memorandum with relation to these problems with answers to the charges which he wished to present to the Secretary. (Memorandum being pouched separately.)3 Chalmers then went on to state that Haiti very badly needed help, particularly in connection with the development of infrastructure, such as roads and dams. However, Haitiʼs request for assistance had been denied, particularly the request with regard to the dam at Peligre (phonetic). The United States had, however, offered technical assistance on certain minor programs such as community development, rural education and birth control (as recorded, although Chalmers could have intended “malaria control”). Haiti was grateful for the aid in these minor areas. However, Haiti feared that the failure to receive help in basic development projects would mean that the already large gap between Haiti and the other Latin American countries would increase with the result that Haiti would eventually become a burden for the whole continent.
Chalmers then referred to the discussions last year with regard to a small loan from the IDB for social needs such as elementary schools. Though this was a minor program, even this had been blocked. Chalmers recalled the generous offer of help made by the Secretary last October 8 in conversation with Chalmers and Minister Dessinor. He recalled the Secretaryʼs statement of amazement that Haiti was still so poor although so close to a major market area, the United States.
Chalmers recounted a conversation he had had with ex-President Galo Plaza of Ecuador4 who had expressed the view that the great [Page 830] powers must aid Haiti. The Secretary interjected to say that he recently had a conversation with Mr. Galo Plaza.5
Chalmers then stated that President Duvalier had agreed in order to obtain Alliance for Progress Aid to turn over (in French he said literally “abandon control of”) the management of approved projects to appropriate international agencies. Haiti will try this approach when next it comes to the United States for assistance. Haiti was prepared to turn over this delegation of authority to an international organization “for the period of capital amortization” (it is not too clear exactly what period of time Chalmers had in mind unless it was the time necessary to amortize the loan). Chalmers then went on to describe some negotiations the Haitian Government had had two years ago with General Electric Corporation which was about ready to agree to the project if it could itself take over the management of the Berique Dam project. Haiti wished to start again its negotiations with General Electric and carry them through to fruition. Haitiʼs intention was that the management of the project would be turned over to General Electric in order to obtain agreement. Chalmers realized this was a private not a government project but he wished to inform the Secretary of Haitiʼs intent to renew these discussions.
Chalmers then referred to the population explosion in Haiti which he estimated would result in an increase in population from 4.5 million to 8 or 9 million by 1980. If the Haitian Government did not do something such as complete the Peligre Dam project which would help raise the subsistence level, it would have a terrible problem on its hands.
Chalmers then went into a discussion of the situation of an unnamed Western European country whose policies (presumably political and social) the United States did not like and to which it had accordingly refused aid. When the United States changed its outlook towards this country, and the country received aid, it began to make progress in every area and “even liberalized its government”. Yet this government, he pointed out, had been one of the most backward. (Chalmers never did define which government he meant but the implication of a comparison with Haiti was clear.)
The Secretary then replied by recalling his personal esteem for Foreign Minister Chalmers and asked whether he might speak freely, saying he would leave it to Chalmers how much he would tell his government. When Chalmers expressed the hope that the Secretary would so speak, the Secretary stated he was very much interested in the possibility that Haiti might accept the concept of independent management [Page 831] for some AID projects. He said he had discussed the Haitian problem personally with other Latin American Foreign Ministers, all of whom were concerned with the development gap between Haiti and the other countries of the hemisphere. (Chalmers here interjected that “it was not a gap but an abyss”.) The Secretary continued, saying that if he might he would like to speak bluntly: “The position of the Haitian people was a scandal and a problem in the hemisphere”. He considered that Haiti presented a problem as urgent as any in the hemisphere including Cuba. The concern of both the Secretary and his colleagues was how the United States or the Latin American countries might move to improve the situation. The Secretary said he did not want to embarrass the Foreign Minister but there existed, in fact, a disposition to help the Haitian people if we, and others, could be assured that the people themselves would be the recipients of the aid. There had been some unhappy experiences in the past. Chalmers indicated he would like to discuss this point. The Secretary then reiterated the deep concern in the hemisphere, and he used the term hemisphere to include institutions as well as governments, with the situation of the Haitian people, a preoccupation with raising their standard of living and of education. For example, said the Secretary, the governments of Chile, Mexico and Venezuela were deeply concerned about doing something for the Haitian people. They wished to help in such a way as not to run into political difficulties and not to be hampered in their efforts. There was no intent, however, that in working with the people they would engage in plots or conspiracies. Chalmers acknowledged his certainty that the United States had no such intent. The Secretary again repeated his desire to find some way to be sure all the efforts would go to the Haitian people.
The Secretary then referred back to the Memorandum presented to him by Chalmers, saying that he would study it carefully. He expressed the hope that whatever might be done for the people could be insulated from political considerations to be sure that the people themselves might benefit.
Chalmers replied that he would report all of this to his government “which will not find shocking the proposal that some programs of AID should not be managed by the Haitian Government”.
The Secretary continued that Haiti caused him to lose a great deal of sleep pointing out it was not only the difficulties in Haiti but also the difficulties with various organs of the United States Government which were bothered about the Haitian problem.
Chalmers then asked whether he might write personally to the Secretary on some of these matters. The Secretary replied in the affirmative but urged that Chalmers use the “utmost discretion” in the interests of both of them. The Secretary repeated how much he valued [Page 832] his contacts with Chalmers, contacts which he wished to continue. Therefore, he wished no events to occur which might interrupt this contact. He then expressed his high opinion of Chalmersʼ competence as a Foreign Minister. To this Chalmers replied that a Foreign Minister “sits on the outside”. The Secretary replied that nevertheless some foreign ministers earn their pay.
Chalmers left thanking the Secretary sincerely for his consideration and leaving with him a Note and a Memorandum.
The Foreign Ministerʼs Note transmitted:
The Note and attachments (being sent under separate cover)6 present a review of Haitian assistance to the United States in the international field and a detailed explanation of various cases, such as that of Dr. Berman, Dr. Shirer, Father Duplesis, Valentine Refining Corporation, etc., brought to the attention of the Haitian Government by the Department.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL HAI–US. Confidential. Drafted by Cates and approved in S on September 28. The meeting was held in the Waldorf-Astoria Towers.↩
- Telegrams 33460 and 33747 to Port-au-Prince, August 23, reported these meetings. (Both ibid., AID (AFP) 3 ECOSOC-IA)↩
- Not found.↩
- Telegrams 261 and 262 from Port-au-Prince, September 13, reported this conversation. (Both National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 7 ECUADOR)↩
- No record of this conversation has been found.↩
- Neither the note nor its attachments has been found.↩