duct of our foreign relations, and I respectfully request favorable consideration.&

"IT [IS] TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF CHANGE THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN THE CHARACTER AND POLICIES OF THE DOMINICAN GOVERNMENT": First Report of the Subcommittee of the Special Committee of the Council of the OAS Considering the Situation in the Dominican Republic, July 12, 1961 es

69

"THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE CONSIDERS IT NECESSARY TO CONTINUE OBSERVING THE COURSE OF DEVELOPMENTS IN [THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC]": Second Report of the Special Committee of the Council of the OAS Considering the Situation in the Dominican Republic, August 11, 1961 70

123. UNITED STATES SUPPORT OF FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF CONDITIONS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Statement Made by the U.S. Representative (Morrison) in the Special Committee of the Council of the OAS Considering the Situation in the Dominican Republic, August 31, 1961 1

The Government of the United States has been following with great interest recent events within the Dominican Republic. We have noted the efforts of President Balaguer to democratize his regime, particularly as described in his speech to the Dominican Congress on August 24.72

For the action taken by the Congress on this request, see ante, doc. 87. "OAS doc. OEA/Ser.G/VII/CE/RC.VI-10 (English) Rev. The members of the subcommittee were Representatives of Panama (chairman), Colombia (vice chairman), the United States, and Uruguay. The chairman of the Special Committee, at its June 5, 1961, meeting, had appointed to serve on the subcommittee Representatives of Argentina (not a member of the Special Committee), Mexico, Panama, the United States, and Uruguay (not a member of the Special Committee). Subsequently, the Representatives of Argentina and Mexico requested to be excused from serving, and the chairman of the Special Committee asked the Representative of Colombia to serve in their stead. The subcommittee spent the period June 7-15 in the Dominican Republic, the last 3 days of its stay being devoted to negotiations with the Dominican authorities regarding future visits of the subcommittee.

70 OAS doc. OEA/Ser.G/IV/C-i-541 (English) Rev. The members of the Special Committee were Representatives of Panama (chairman), Honduras (vice chairman). Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, the United States, and Uruguay. The Special Committee's first report is printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 266–268.

71

Department of State press release No. 602 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Sept. 18, 1961, pp. 500-501).

72

"2 The speech is summarized in the New York Times, Aug. 25, 1961.

We have also noted the report and summary made to the special committee of the Council of the Organization of American States on August 29 by Dominican Ambassador [Virgilio] Díaz Ordóñez, in which he restated his Government's intention to abide strictly by the nonintervention commitment and to bring about a democratic transformation in that country. In support of this attitude in the Dominican Republic Ambassador Díaz Ordóñez cited, among other points, the participation of the opposition, such as the Unión Cívica Nacional, the Fourteenth of June, the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, and others, in the national political forum; the attendance of his Government at the Punta del Este conference 73 and their support of the Alliance for Progress; the decentralization of political and economic life: and the wish of his Government that the OAS subcommittee return promptly to observe the progress made in democratization.

Reports coming to my Government, and others carried in the press and from various Dominican political action groups, contain information on political events within the Dominican Republic. We have been informed from these and other sources of instances of the abuse of civil rights reported to have occurred in the Dominican Republic, as well as of progress in safeguarding these rights. We appreciate the concern with which these political groups view the need for such changes in the policies and character of the Dominican Government as to assure its true democratization. We appreciate also the interest of moderate political groups in cooperating in the establishment, through peaceful means, of a sound democratic government, avoiding extremes dangerous to the peace and security of this hemisphere.

74

These reported developments all relate to the problem of the future of the subcommittee of this Special Committee and, in particular, its return to the Dominican Republic. It is the hope of my Government that the subcommittee will return in the very near future and that the purpose of its visit would be to assess the degree of change that may have occurred in the character and policies of the Dominican Government since its report dated June 12, 1961. I believe we may assume that if the subcommittee does find that definite beneficial changes have taken place, we would be prepared to consider whether such changes were sufficient to justify favorable action by the Council. Meanwhile, as a further indication of our deep concern for the welfare of the Dominican people themselves, my Government is taking certain steps aimed at aiding the Dominican people by relieving hunger, which is reported in certain areas. The representatives of U.S. private relief agencies, at the invitation of President Balaguer, are now making a survey of the needs, and the United States stands ready to make food supplies available for their distribution if they determine this to be necessary.

It is to the interest of all of us that the Dominican Republic assume a respected and responsible place within the family of American

73 See post, docs. 145 and 146.

74 See the unnumbered title, ante, p. 329.

nations. It is our hope that the continued sympathetic interest and concern of our inter-American organization may assist the Dominican people in their vital task of democratization.

"GREATER PROGRESS THAN THAT... ATTAINED SO FAR SHOULD BE EVIDENCED BEFORE... THE DECISION IS REACHED THAT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAS CEASED TO CONSTITUTE A DANGER TO THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF THE HEMISPHERE": Second Report of the Subcommittee of the Special Committee of the Council of the OAS Considering the Situation in the Dominican Republic, November 10, 1961 75

124. UNITED STATES PROPOSAL FOR TERMINATING THE SUSPENSION OF TRADE WITH THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, TRUCKS AND SPARE PARTS: Statement Made by the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Woodward) in the Special Committee of the Council of the OAS Considering the Situation in the Dominican Republic, November 14, 1961 (Excerpt) 7

76

We realize, of course, that the members of this Special Committee " who are not members of the subcommittees have not yet had an opportunity to study the contents of the subcommittee report which was put before them this morning." This report presents its findings and observations to this Special Committee without a specific recommendation concerning action the Special Committee or the Council of the OAS in its turn might take. As a possible contribution to the thought which the Special Committee will devote to the study of the report, I take this opportunity to offer you the points of view of my Govern

ment.

Like the other members of the OAS with which the Government of the United States of America has been closely cooperating in this matter, my Government has long shared the hope that the Dominican Republic would soon assume a respected place in the inter-American

"OAS doc. OEA/Ser.G/VII/CE/RC.VI-22 (English). The members of the subcommittee were Representatives of Panama (chairman), Colombia (vice chairman), Ecuador, and the United States. The Representative of Uruguay had asked to be excused from serving. The subcommittee spent the period Sept. 12-Oct. 1 in the Dominican Republic.

Department of State press release No. 785 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 4, 1961, pp. 929–932).

"L.e., the OAS Council Representatives of Panama (chairman), Honduras (vice chairman), Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States.

78 I.e., the OAS Council Representatives of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and the United States.

79 See supra.

system as a democratic nation with a government fully representative of the Dominican people and responsive to their will. We have of course hoped that it would soon become possible for the Council of the OAS to find that the Government of the Dominican Republic has ceased to constitute a danger to the peace and security of the continent. My Government has become convinced, however, that this desired objective can be attained only when leading figures who were closely associated with the repressive measures of the former dictatorship are clearly no longer able to dominate the political and economic life of the nation. Moreover, it appears obvious that full development of representative government cannot be assured until extralegal repressive measures have ceased and human rights are more consistently observed. Unfortunately, the subcommittee received impressive testimony concerning the imperfect observance of human rights and concerning measures of repression against opposition political activity.

The delegate of the United States of America on the subcommittee of this Special Committee has therefore subscribed to the view expressed in the penultimate paragraph of the report that greater progress than that already achieved must be demonstrated in the Dominican Republic before a conclusion can be reached that the Government of that country has ceased to constitute a danger to the peace and security of the continent.

My Government believes, however, that there have been significant. effects from the resolution of August 21, 1960, in which the Sixth. Meeting of Foreign Ministers agreed to break diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic and to suspend trade in arms and implements of war.80 We believe that these major restrictions on the Dominican Republic have played a most important role in bringing about the improvements which have occurred up to now. We also deeply hope that further and more significant improvements will be made in the near future and that these will then warrant the definitive action that would enable the members of the OAS to remove the specific measures applied by the resolution of August 21, 1960. When those sanctions can be removed, my Government looks forward to the restoration of diplomatic relations and all forms of normal constructive relationships with the Dominican Republic and its citizens.

Despite the grave reservations I have mentioned, my Government likewise subscribes fully to the statement in the final paragraph of the subcommittee's report expressing the opinion that due recognition should be given to the degree of change which has occurred in the character and policy of the Dominican Government since the previous report of the subcommittee. To summarize, that Government has formally reiterated to the subcommittee its decision not to intervene in the internal affairs of other American States; a vigorous political opposition now acts openly in the Dominican Republic; opposition newspapers and publications circulate; the Government has declared its determination to control and eliminate abuses of police power and has taken certain measures to this end; there appears to be a possi

80 Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 260–262.

bility of a political solution between the Government and moderate opposition I wish to note that the Dominican Government has expressed its intention to undertake measures recommended in the report of the OAS electoral procedures mission,81 which, if carried out effectively, would contribute greatly to such a solution); key figures closely associated with the former regime have departed; and the Trujillo family has publicly announced its intention to deliver their large sugar properties to a foundation which would use these properties for the benefit of the Dominican people. These developments would have seemed unbelievable a few months ago, and they constitute, in the opinion of my Government, a substantial improvement from the long period of dark repression.

We are therefore faced with a situation which is neither black nor white. This should not surprise us; the transition from a dictatorship of 31 years to a society founded on freedom cannot be made at once or without great difficulties. There has been evident progress as a result of the work of men of good will in both the Government and the moderate opposition; it is to these men of good will that we must look for further progress.

After the most careful weighing of the many considerations which enter into this matter, my Government respectfully submits its view to the Special Committee that the Committee should recommend that action be taken by the Council at this time which would give recognition to the constructive efforts of the Government of the Dominican Republic-sufficient recognition to encourage that Government to continue the further progress which is so deeply desired and which is so indispensable to this great humanitarian effort in which the role of the OAS is so important.

Fortunately there is a ready and convenient method of providing this encouragement. This would be the withdrawal by the Council of the OAS of the formal indication which it made to the member states in the resolution approved on January 4, 1961.82 This resolution stated that it was "feasible and desirable" to extend the suspension of trade with the Dominican Republic so that the suspension would apply to trade in petroleum and petroleum products and in trucks and spare parts for trucks. As a practical matter, the withdrawal of this action by the COAS would have little material effect upon the basic economy of the Dominican Republic. Moreover, the withdrawal of this action by the Council of the OAS would have no effect on commerce in sugar and other products with the Dominican Republic.

In view of all the foregoing, my Government proposes that the Special Committee recommend that the Council withdraw the action taken in the resolution of January 4, 1961, as a gesture of encourage

81 Reference to the Report of the Technical Assistance Mission of the Organization of American States to the Dominican Republic on Electoral Matters (Washington, Pan American Union, November 1961), transmitted to the President of the Dominican Republic, Oct. 19, 1961.

83 Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, p. 270.