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

120. Telegram From the Embassy in the Dominican Republic to the Department of State ¹

Santo Domingo, August 3, 1965, 0301Z.

325. From Bunker. Ref: Embtel 306.² Following is informal translation of text of draft “Act of Dominican Reconciliation” now under consideration by ad hoc committee:

Begin Text (unnecessary words omitted).

Convinced of absolute necessity restore peace and unity to Dom family, to promote economic recovery of nation and reestablish its democratic institutions;

Conscious of their patriotic duty to foreswear all personal ambitions and interests for benefit of the nation;

Determined to achieve their high purpose of assuring a climate of peace and conciliation in which all Dominicans can live under system of freedom and social justice;

Parties signing below who declare that they represent respectively, in capacities indicated, “Constitutional Government”, “Government of National Reconstruction” and Provisional Government of D.R. hereby make it known that they have reached following agreement as result of negotiations carried out by ad hoc committee of the tenth meeting MFM whose members also sign present act as further testimony that parties have agreed to comply with its terms:

1. “Government of National Reconstruction” and “Constitutional Government” accept the Provisional Government presided over by Hector Garcia Godoy as sole and sovereign Government of Dominican Republic. Members of “Government of National Reconstruction” and “Constitutional Government” will offer their fullest cooperation to Provisional Government in re-establishment and consolidation of political peace, as well as in rehabilitation of national economy.

2. Parties accept institutional act resulting from this agreement as the constitutional instrument under which Provisional Government will exercise its functions. No previous constitution will have effect during existence of Institutional Act whose text is annexed to this agreement.

3. Provisional Government will, on day it takes office, proclaim general amnesty provided for in Article 11 of institutional act and will take necessary measures to release all political prisoners.

4. Immediately following inauguration of Provisional Government, constitutionalist forces will withdraw all defenses and check points in and around zone presently under their control. This zone will, at same time, become part of security zone established by “Act of Santo Domingo”.³ Security zone will be maintained for period of 30 days, at end of which period it will disappear unless provisional president should consider it necessary to postpone this step.

5. Provisional Government will have responsibility for assuring that public order is maintained within security zone. In discharging this responsibility, it may call on Inter-American Peace Force for assistance.

6. Provisional Government will, as soon as it has taken office, establish special centers for collection of arms in possession of civilian population. These centers will be located in security zone and under direction of persons designated by Provisional Government after previous consultation with Colonel Francisco A. Caamano Deno. These arms will be delivered to Inter-American Peace Force for safekeeping until Provisional Government shall decide that they should be returned to arsenals of the nation.

7. Persons who presently form “Constitutional Government” and its military command will take all necessary measures so that all arms now in possession of civilians under their jurisdiction are delivered within 48 hours after installation of Provisional Government to centers established in accordance with foregoing article. At conclusion this period, Provisional Government will take such measures as may be necessary to recover all arms that have not been surrendered voluntarily.

8. As soon as Provisional Government has been installed, armed forces will return to their barracks and place themselves under orders of their commander in chief, the provisional president. All members of armed forces who have participated in present conflict on “Constitutionalist” side will rejoin their units without discriminations or reprisals at rank they held on April 23, 1965. All such military personnel will be subject to orders of their respective superior officers in accordance with organic law of armed forces.

9. In accordance with declaration of general amnesty, no officer or enlisted man of armed forces will be submitted to court martial or subject to punishment of any kind for acts, except common crimes, committed since April 23, 1965. Any officer or enlisted man who wishes to retire will be permitted to do so in accordance with prescribed procedures and corresponding retirement benefits set forth in organic law of armed forces. Any officer or enlisted man who desires to leave the country may do so under appropriate guarantees and with assistance provided by Provisional Government.

10. During thirty-day period in which security zone will remain in being, Provisional Government and unified command of Inter-American Peace Force will work out plans for relocation of the force. At same time, Provisional Government will initiate negotiations with tenth meeting of MFM re gradual evacuation of force.

In witness whereof etc.

End Text

Departmentʼs comments will be appreciated.

Bennett

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Dominican Republic, Vol. X, 8/65–9/65. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to DOD, CIA, CINCSO, CINCLANT, and the White House for McGeorge Bundy. This telegram and Document 119 were sent to McGeorge Bundy under cover of an August 3 memorandum from Bowdler who wrote: “Telegram 325 contains the text of the draft ‘Act of Dominican Reconciliation.’ This also looks okay to me. I do not know how realistic it is to think that Caamano and Imbert will sign the same piece of paper, but I think it is absolutely essential to have a clear understanding in writing as to what the ground rules of the settlement are.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Dominican Republic, Vol. X, 8/65–9/65)
2. See footnote 3, Document 117.
3. “The Act of Santo Domingo,” signed May 5, 1965, by members of the “Constitutional Government,” “Government of National Reconstruction” and by members of the Special Committee of the Tenth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs ratified the April 30 cease-fire agreement that had not been observed. For text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1965, pp. 973–974.