839.248/11–2647
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Charles C. Hauch of the Division of Caribbean Affairs
| Participants: | Ambassador Luis F. Thomen—Dominican Republic |
| Mr. Daniels—ARA | |
| Mr. Hauch—CRB |
The Dominican Ambassador called at his initiative and requested that the Department’s decision with respect to the licensing of military aircraft for the Dominican Republic be reconsidered again. He referred to his previous call on Mr. Armour on this subject and the information he had received from me that it would not be possible to make this type of aircraft available to the Dominican Republic. The Ambassador said that if the decision of the Department should remain unchanged, then he would like to have transit and refueling privileges given to some thirty mosquito planes which the Dominican Government could obtain in Canada.65 He stated his Government would much prefer to obtain its equipment in the United States, in view of its desire to cooperate with us in the arms standardization program, but that if planes of the desired type could not be secured here at the present time they would have to endeavor to obtain them elsewhere.
The Ambassador then went on to reiterate that his Government urgently needed these planes for defensive purposes against the revolution based in Venezuela against his country. Mr. Daniels made clear that he did not believe any such threat to the Dominican Republic exists. He also stated his view that the atmosphere of charges and counter-charges of revolutionary activity and involvement of one government against another should be played down. The Ambassador said he was in accord with this approach, but that his Government could not ignore the fact that the Government of Venezuela is actively aiding a revolutionary attempt against the Dominican Republic in [Page 661] Venezuelan territory. Mr. Daniels reiterated several times his view that this danger is grossly exaggerated.
During the discussion Mr. Daniels inquired whether the Ambassador would be willing to discuss this situation on a personal and unofficial basis with the Venezuelan Ambassador in Mr. Daniels’ presence. Mr. Daniels made clear he was not proposing this, but was merely inquiring as to the Ambassador’s views on the subject. The Ambassador stated his belief that this would be impossible. He said that his Government plans to communicate its position on this subject to the Government of Venezuela through the Pan American Union.
The Ambassador referred to the armament and aircraft obtained by other American republics, including Venezuela, during the period when the Dominican Republic was unable to obtain equipment in the United States.66 He said this had brought about a disequilibrium which the Dominican Government was now attempting to overcome. He obviously felt that Venezuela had been disproportionately armed by the United States and that we should, therefore, enable the Dominican Republic to restore the balance.
Mr. Daniels said he would look into the Dominican aircraft requests again and would get in touch with the Ambassador later.
- On November 26, the Third Secretary of the Canadian Embassy (Rogers), was informed that the Department had disapproved the acquisition by the Dominican Republic of aircraft of this type and was asked whether the Canadian Government would have any objection to the State Department’s refusing a transit license. On December 2, Mr. Rogers telephoned to say that it was the policy of the Canadian Department of External Affairs not to approve the sale of weapons of any kind to the Dominican Republic and that any Dominican request for the purchase of combat aircraft would be referred to the Canadian Cabinet with the recommendation that the aircraft not be sold.↩
- See memorandum of December 1 on this subject, infra.↩