4. Airgram From the Embassy in the Dominican Republic to the Department of State1
SUBJECT
- Conversation With Donald Reid
Enclosed is the memorandum of a recent conversation between Triumvirate President Donald Reid Cabral and an Embassy officer.2 On the subject of elections Reid revealed what the Embassy has long suspected: that he is in no hurry to begin the electoral process. With regard to the issue of amnesty for political prisoners, Reid asserted the political necessity for such a measure and described his ideas on the subject. He acknowledged strong opposition from the other members of the Triumvirate to his proposals on this score and said that the situation had led to serious dissension. Reid also blamed jealousy and pernicious outside influences for his current troubles with Manuel Tavares3 and Ramón Tapia. Reid discussed possible forthcoming changes in the Cabinet4 and indicated that he was particularly anxious to rid the government of Vanguardia Revolucionaria Dominicana because of that partyʼs corrupt practices. On the potentially explosive issue of Joaquín Balaguerʼs return to the DR, Reid expressed the opinion that the ex-President represented a greater threat outside of the country and should be permitted to come home as soon as the political campaign begins.5 Finally, Reid brought up the question of AID, stating that the GODR urgently needs help in hospital, school and foreign scholarship programs.
Comment: It is sometimes difficult to believe that Reid is the same man who served on the Council of State. Of late he appears much calmer, more pragmatic and more sensible. He is still indiscreet and [Page 11] basically rather cynical but, perhaps alone among Dominican politicians, he seems to have learned something during the past two years. In any event, his marked political instinct and avocation for government provide an encouraging contrast with the emotionalism and naívite which Tavares and Tapia display all too frequently.
Second Secretary of Embassy
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 2 DOM REP. Confidential. Drafted by Shlaudeman on February 18 and approved by DCM Spencer M. King.↩
- Attached memorandum of conversation between Reid and Shlaudeman, February 17, is not printed.↩
- Member of the Triumvirate after Juan Boschʼs overthrow in September 25, 1963.↩
- Reid specifically sought replacements for the Secretaries of Education and Justice.↩
- During their conversation Reid explained to Shlaudeman that Balaguer in exile “represented a rallying point for golpistas who could use [him] as a front man,” and if he were in the Dominican Republic Balaguer would become “vulnerable to attack as a trujillista relic of the past and could be expected to lose much of his present appeal.”↩