351. Telegram 136431 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Dominican Republic1
136431. Subject: Dominican Ambassador Informed of USG Concern Over Access to Detained American Citizens. Ref: Santo Domingo 2569; State 134554; Santo Domingo 2537.
1. Dominican Ambassador Horacio Vicioso Soto was asked to come to the Department today and was received by Deputy Assistant Secretary Ryan at 11 p.m.
2. Ambassador Vicioso was informed by Ambassador Ryan of the arrest of three U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico who have been held by Dominican authorities since June 2 and that access to these individuals by U.S. consular officers had not yet been granted despite both oral requests and the presentation of a formal request by diplomatic note yesterday.
3. Ambassador Ryan expressed deep concern over the inability of the USG to carry out its obligations under Article 36 of the Vienna Consular Convention. He drew the Ambassador’s attention to the heightened concern in the U.S. over human rights. He expressed the hope that access to these citizens would be granted and that the matter would not be allowed to interfere with the normally cordial relations existing between our two governments.
4. The Ambassador appeared unaware of the detention of these Americans and expressed surprise that access had not been granted by this time. He suggested, however, that the detentions might be related to the recent security problems in his country. Ambassador Ryan said we understood there seemed to be a connection between the arrests [Page 921] and the recent reported landing by guerrillas, but that this did not affect our rights and obligations to have consular access under the Vienna Convention. Ambassador Vicioso said he would get in touch with his Foreign Secretary immediately.
5. Shortly after 12 noon, Vicioso called Ambassador Ryan to say that he had been in telephone conversation with Foreign Secretary Jimenez. The Foreign Secretary said that the detained Americans were in good health but under a “rigorous investigatory process” and that access to them will be given as soon as this process is completed. Ambassador Ryan told Vicioso that this response was not satisfactory and that the Vienna Convention required immediate access to detained individuals.
6. Action requested: The Chargé is requested to follow up this démarche with Foreign Secretary Jimenez, describing the purpose for calling the Ambassador to the Department and reiterating the points which were made to Vicioso both during the appointment and in the subsequent conversation.
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Summary: The Department reported on a meeting with the Dominican Ambassador in which Department officials insisted on consular access to three U.S. citizens who had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the landing of leftist guerrillas in the Dominican Republic.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750204–0027. Confidential; Niact Immediate. Drafted by Strasser and Lee, cleared by Burke, and approved by Ryan. In telegram 2569 from Santo Domingo, June 6, the Embassy reported on an alleged connection between three detained U.S. citizens and Dominican militants, and telegram 2537, June 9, described initial efforts to gain access to the detainees. (Both ibid., D750202–0532 and D750200–0544) In telegram 134554 to Santo Domingo, June 9, the Department provided the Embassy with additional guidance for the handling of the situation. (Ibid., D750201–0085) In telegram 2604 from Santo Domingo, June 12, the Embassy reported on Chargé Axelrod’s meeting with Foreign Secretary Ramón Emilio Jiménez, in which he presented the Department’s position on the need for consular access to the detainees and stated that he was “apprehensive about the effects on our relations if consular contact could not be made today.” (Ibid., D750205–0602) In telegram 2679 from Santo Domingo, June 16, the Embassy noted that a consular visit to the prisoners took place on that date. (Ibid., D750209–0914)
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