ment to further progress by the Government of the Dominican Republic.

My Government cherishes the hope that Dominican men of good will and sincerity, in the Government and in the democratic opposition, will join together in accelerating their efforts to insure the peaceful transformation of their country into a democratic society. This great effort, which will require courage with moderation and an abil ity to compromise democratically and which will require a high sense of public responsibility, can well earn these statesmen the lasting admiration and gratitude of the peoples and governments of all the democratic and peaceloving nations of the Western World.

125. UNITED STATES CONSIDERATION OF MEASURES WARRANTED IN THE EVENT OF A REASSERTION OF DICTATORIAL RULE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Statement by the Secretary of State (Rusk), Issued November 18, 1961 83

It has been confirmed that leading figures who were closely associated with the repressive measures of the former dictatorship in the Dominican Republic and who had departed from that country returned to Ciudad Trujillo on November 15.84

Moreover, it appears that they may be planning an attempt to reassert dictatorial domination of the political and economic life of that country, threatening the recent gains of the Dominican Government and people toward democratization.

On the recommendation of the United States, the Special Committee of the Organization of American States has already postponed further consideration of a proposal on withdrawing the suspension of trade with the Dominican Republic in certain products.85

In view of the possibility of political disintegration and the dangerous situation which could ensue, the Government of the United States is considering the further measures that unpredictable events might warrant.

83

Department of State press release No. 799 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 4, 1961, p. 931).

84 Two brothers of the assassinated military dictator of the Dominican Republic, Generalissimo Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina, were reported to have returned to the Dominican Republic, Nov. 15; their departure was announced by the Dominican President, Dr. Joaquín Belaguer, Nov. 19 (see the New York Times, Nov. 20).

85

Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, Robert F. Woodward, made the following statement before the special committee of the Council of the OAS, Nov. 16: "In view of the reports from the Dominican Republic this morning, I recommend that we defer any decision on the date on which the Special Committee should vote on this subject." (Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 4, 1961, p. 932, footnote 4)

126. UNITED STATES VIEWS REGARDING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Statement Made by the U.S. Representative (Morrison) Before the Council of the OAS, November 22, 1961 (Excerpts) S6

86

The facts regarding recent developments in the Dominican Republic are well known to the members of this Council. They have been the subject matter of recent meetings of the Special Committee on the Dominican Republic to carry out the mandate given to the Council by Resolution I of the Sixth Meeting of Foreign Ministers.87 They have been given full and adequate publicity. With particular reference to the statements made by the United States in this connection, may I call attention to the following:

1. On November 14, 1961, the Special Representative of the United States on the Special Committee presented a formal statement summarizing the reaction of my Government to the recently prepared report of the subcommittee of that Committee.88 Based upon our view that recognition should be given to "constructive efforts" that had been made by the Government of the Dominican Republic to remove the basis for the OAS action which was taken in August of 1960,89 my Government proposed withdrawal of the formal indication made by the Council on January 4, 1961,90 that it was "feasible and desirable" to extend suspension of trade with the Dominican Republic to petroleum and petroleum products and trucks and spare parts for trucks. An important consideration in this proposal was the fact that "key figures closely associated with the former regime" had departed, since it appeared important that leading figures closely associated with the former dictatorship should no longer be able to dominate the political and economic life of the Dominican Republic.

2. Shortly after the meeting in which the above statement was made, and while the other members of the Committee were considering further the problems before it, two of the above-mentioned "leading figures," members of the Trujillo family, returned to the Dominican Republic from their brief sojourn abroad.91 As a result of this development, which clearly appeared a backward step, the United States representative recommended postponement of a decision regarding the date on which the Special Committee would vote on the above problem. This was accepted by the Committee.

92

3. On November 18, the Secretary of State issued the following statement: 93

85 Department of State press release No. 814 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 18, 1961, pp. 1000-1003).

"See American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 260–262. Ante, doc. 124.

* See American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 260–262.

"See ibid., p. 270.

21 See footnote 84 to doc. 125, supra.

92 See footnote 85 to doc. 125, supra.

93

Supra.

Doc. 126

4. As signs of political disintegration appeared, and the possibility of an even more dangerous situation increased, units of the U.S. Navy were stationed near the Dominican Republic on the high seas and constituted a friendly presence with the full knowledge of the constitutional authorities and responsible leaders of the Dominican Republic. 5. The stationing of these units of the U.S. Fleet on the high seas outside the territorial waters and outside the airspace of any sovereign government, in no way was or is an act of intervention violating the sovereignty or territorial integrity of a sovereign state, or contrary to any international obligations. There have been no flights by United States aircraft over Dominican territory as the delegate of Cuba charges.

The Dominican people in emerging from the tyranny of the Trujillo era have won an important initial victory. It is heartwarming to see their great happiness and jubilation as manifest in the wave of celebration going on throughout the Dominican Republic and participated in by all the democratic forces of the country. They have a right to be heartened by the fact that a military coup which was being planned and in the making did not succeed, and as they look forward to strengthening the freedom they have won they also have a right to claim the sympathy and support of the governments and peoples of the hemisphere in their own efforts to guard against other extremists who are already trying to impose on the Dominican Republic a new dictatorship a dictatorship as deadly as the Trujillos' to individual liberties and representative democracy.

"IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED OBJECTIVELY THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAS CEASED TO CONSTITUTE A DANGER TO THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF AMERICA": Third Report of the Subcommittee of the Special Committee of the Council of the OAS Considering the Situation in the Dominican Republic, December 20, 1961 9+

127. "I WANT TO MAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC": Statement by the President (Kennedy), Issued December 20, 1961 95

I want to make special note of the most encouraging developments in the Dominican Republic. The solution to the political difficulties in

OAS doc. OEA/Ser. G/VII/CE/RC.VI-27 (English) Rev. The members of the subcommittee were Representatives of Ecuador (chairman), Chile, Colombia, Panama, the United States, and Uruguay. The subcommittee spent the period Nov. 21-26 in the Dominican Republic.

95 White House press release (Palm Beach, Fla.) dated Dec. 20, 1961 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 22, 1962, p. 128).

that country, the principal feature of which is the immediate creation. of a council of state, was announced by President Balaguer on December 17 and has now been accepted by the principal elements of the democratic opposition. It represents, in my judgment, an impressive demonstration of statesmanship and responsibility by all concerned. This accomplishment by the democratic opposition and the Dominican Government is all the more remarkable when it is recalled that only recently the Dominican Republic emerged from three decades of a harshly repressive regime which dedicated itself to stifling every democratic Dominican voice. This victory of the Dominican people and its leaders is a striking demonstration of the fact that dictatorship can suppress but cannot destroy the aspirations of a people to live in freedom, dignity, and peace.

The Dominican people still face long and difficult efforts to transform their aspirations into an effective, soundly based democratic system. In this struggle, they have the assurance of our sympathetic and tangible support. I understand that the Organization of American States is now considering the lifting of the sanctions imposed upon the Dominican Republic by collective action in August 1960 and January 1961. If the Council of the OAS takes such action-and our representatives are supporting that step-we will resume diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic promptly. When this takes place the Department of Agriculture will authorize purchases under the Dominican allocation of nonquota sugar for the first 6 months of 1962.

In addition, I propose to send, upon the installation of the new council of state, a United States economic assistance mission, headed by Ambassador Teodoro Moscoso of AID [Agency for International Development] and including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Milton Barall, to visit the Dominican Republic. Its purpose will be to explore emergency requirements and the possibilities for longer range cooperative programs under the Alliance for Progress, which can be of direct benefit to the Dominican people. I expect that this mission will arrive in the Dominican Republic late this month or very early in January.

I understand that Mr. Felipe Herrera, President of the Inter-American Development Bank, will head a high-level mission to the Dominican Republic in the near future to begin discussions and inquire into economic and social development projects.

These actions are intended to assist the new Dominican Government and people in developing a sound economic and social structure, which is indispensable to an enduring democratic political system.

The Dominican people and their leaders confront a great and seldom given opportunity: the construction of a democratic society on the ruins of tyranny. It is a noble task, but it is not an easy one. We wish them well, and we assure them of our desire to assist them in their efforts.

See American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 260-262 and 270.

"THE [SPECIAL] COMMITTEE SHARES THE CONCLUSIONS ARRIVED AT BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE IN ITS THIRD REPORT": Third Report of the Special Committee of the Council of the OAS Considering the Situation in the Dominican Republic, December 29, 1961 97

128. CANCELLATION OF DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS BY THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS AGAINST THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Resolution Ap proved by the Council of the OAS, January 4, 1962 98

THE COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, HAVING SEEN the Second and Third Reports of the Subcommittee of the Special Committee to carry out the mandate received by the Council pursuant to Resolution I of the Sixth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs 99 (OEA/Ser.G/VII/CE/RC.VI-101 and OEA/Ser.G/VII/CE/RC.VI-22)2 and the report on these documents presented by the Special Committee (OEA/Ser.G/IV/C-i-557, Rev. 3);3

CONSIDERING that the Government of the Dominican Republic is no longer a danger to the peace and security of the Hemisphere; and

As a consequence thereof and in accordance with the power granted to it in paragraph 2 of the operative part of Resolution I,

RESOLVES:

1. To cancel the measures agreed upon by the Sixth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in letters a. and b. of paragraph 1 of the operative part of Resolution I (OEA/Ser.C/II.6) and those agreed upon by the Council of the Organization of American States in its resolution of January 4, 1961 (OEA/Ser.G/IV/ C-i-497, Rev.).*

2. To request the Secretary General of the Organization of American States to transmit the text of this resolution to the Security Council of the United Nations.

UNITED STATES RESUMPTION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 6, 1962: Announcement Issued by the Department of State, January 6, 1962 5

"OAS doc. OEA/Ser.G/IV/C-i-557 (English) Rev. 4.

98 OAS doc. OEA/Ser.G/III/C-sa-431(2).

99 Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 260–262. 'Cited as an unnumbered title, ante, p. 331.

Cited as an unnumbered title, ante, p. 336.

'Cited as an unnumbered title, supra.

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

"Department of State press release No. 13; the Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 22, 1962, p. 129.