Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The American Republics, Volume IV

738.5 MSP/1–754

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Nash) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Washington, January 7, 1954.

Dear Mr. Secretary: Reference is made to memorandum dated 19 October 1953,¹ from the Department of State, requesting information as to whether the Department of Defense considers that a bilateral Military Assistance Agreement with Haiti would be desirable from a military point of view and, in particular, whether the Department of Defense is prepared to develop a hemisphere defense task for Haiti in establishing its eligibility for grant military assistance under the Mutual Security Act of 1951, as amended.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have recommended that, from a military point of view, it would be desirable to negotiate a military assistance agreement with Haiti. Further, in a recent revision of U.S. war plans for Latin America, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have included a defense task for Haiti, the execution of which will require the development by Haiti of naval forces estimated at 3 LSFF’s (Landing Ships Flotilla Flagship). The force bases for developing and refining the FY 1955 MDA Program are being amended to include these ships. However, the presently proposed FY 1955 MDA Program does not include funds for the provision of military assistance to Haiti.

Attention is invited to the fact that provision of 3 LSFF’s to Haiti under the grant military assistance program will constitute a departure from the precedent hitherto followed in Navy programming for Latin America. No vessels have previously been provided under grant aid programs to Latin American countries.

On the basis of the recommendation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Department of Defense considers that defense plans and the hemisphere defense task assigned to Haiti require that country to participate in missions important to the defense of the Western Hemisphere. It is, therefore, requested that the Department of State initiate a request that the President find that such military assistance as may be furnished Haiti is in accordance with defense plans which require Haiti to participate in missions important to the defense of the Western Hemisphere.²

Sincerely yours,

Frank C. Nash

1. Not printed (738.5 MSP/10–1953).
2. On May 13, 1954, President Eisenhower made the necessary finding under the Mutual Security Act of 1951 that Haiti’s participation in the military assistance program was required by Hemisphere defense plans, and he authorized the initiation of negotiations with Haiti for a bilateral military assistance agreement (738.5 MSP/6–254).