839.24/7–1747: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Dominican Republic
us urgent
147. Dominican Amb called on me July 8 to request that our policy of not supplying his Govt with arms be reversed. He made it clear that it was not question whether Dominican Republic would buy arms but rather where it would buy them. If they were not purchased from us they would be purchased elsewhere and he simply wanted to know whether U.S. would authorize their sale or whether his Govt should purchase them from another source of supply. Since Ambassador’s call matter has been carefully studied within Dept and it has now been concluded that we should consider D. R. and all other Amreps on same basis insofar as permission for export or transfer of arms is concerned. This means, in accordance with Dept’s general policy on arms exports, that proposed exports arms to D. R. will be permitted when Dept concludes such transfers are reasonable and necessary for maintenance internal order or to provide for the exercise of right of self-defense or to fulfill international obligations to provide contingent forces to Security Council.38
Consideration will also be given to approval small interim program for D. R. if War Dept so recommends.
Our restrictive arms policy toward D. R. and certain other Govts worked well so long as this Govt had a virtual arms monopoly, which is far from case at present time. Political factors which argue for embargo are as cogent today as ever and present reversal is on pragmatic grounds. If D. R. is to arm (as apparently arm itself it will) then our position is stronger to have some voice therein.
- The Secretary of State indicated in telegram 151, August 4, to Ciudad Trujillo (839.24/8–447), that the Dominican Ambassador had called at the Department on that date and was given the substance of this paragraph.↩