810.248/12–147
Memorandum by Mr. George O. Spencer of the Division of Special Inter-American Affairs to Mr. Charles C. Hauch of the Division of Caribbean Affairs
The underlying tabulation67 indicates, for 7 Caribbean countries, (1) the number of planes in the Air Forces long range program, (2) the number of planes in the interim program, and (3) the number of planes actually purchased in the interim program. The following conclusions may be drawn:
- 1.
- For 4 of the countries, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador, no aircraft larger than advanced trainers are planned for the over-all or interim programs. Two of the countries, Cuba and Venezuela were offered a few bombers and fighters in the interim program and have purchased some of those offered. A few more bombers and fighters are planned for Cuba and Venezuela in the over-all program. Guatemala has nothing in the interim program beyond the advanced trainers, but a few fighters are planned for the over-all program.
- 2.
- Although the Dominican Republic was not offered an interim program, she has been able to purchase commercially and to export, more planes than the Army Department has planned for the Dominican Republic in the over-all program.
- 3.
- Venezuela, which was offered a few bombers and fighters in the interim program, has purchased all of those which were offered and has purchased 30 AT–6’s in addition, from commercial sources.
On the basis of the underlying tabulation, I do not believe it would be in order, nor do I believe that the PCA would approve, fighters or bombers for the Dominican Republic, whether procured from US surplus stocks, US firms, or Canada. This would mean rejecting all Dominican requests, including the request for a transit license for Canadian mosquito aircraft, with the exception of the request for 30 AT–6’s which the Dominicans say they can obtain from the Babb Co. I think we might approve some of these AT–6’s, although 30 of them would seem to be a rather large order.
- Not printed.↩