Office of the Historian

838.00 TA/12–3154:Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Haiti 1

official use only
Washington, December 31, 1954—4:19 p.m.

87. Joint State–FOA. Subject: Emergency Assistance.

1.
Decision emergency assistance cannot be made basis general statement of need. President should also clearly understand no advance assurance such assistance can be made available, would be limited in amount and would have to be directly related disaster needs.
2.
Require:
a.
Estimate hurricane and rain damage coffee, cacao, other crops; irrigation works and roads. Effect on budgetary revenues, exports and national income.
b.
Estimate Haitian FY54–55, 55–56 revenues and balance of payments.
c.
Estimate maximum borrowing capacity internal and external sources.
d.
Estimate essential minimum expenditures for normal gov operations; continuing and any new top priority development projects which should not be delayed such as Port-au-Prince/Aux Cayes road and Artibonite hydroelectric; rehabilitation and reconstruction essential permit population again earn livelihood.
e.
Gap if any U.S. FY–55 and 56 between revenues and anticipated loans and essential expenditures for which emergency assistance requested.
f.
Program for all proposed expenditures except for normal gov operations which can be stated by general categories. To the extent available specific details should be included on projects for which emergency assistance requested. Need for assistance on such projects must be directly related to disaster. Possible examples are rehabilitation coffee and cacao, reconstruction irrigation works, land preparation, etc. in Artibonite not under contract and which normally financed budgetary revenues. Some repair roads in immediate disaster area might also be included.
g.
Undertaking by gov effectively to utilize all available resources carry out stated program.
3.
Preparation proposed program solely responsibility Haitian Gov and assure President no desire interfere. If projects included however which are not top priority in present emergency seriously doubt if emergency grant assistance could be justified. For example while Petion–Ville road may be sound project later date, do not consider top priority this time and if gov has funds for this project difficult explain Congress need grant assistance from US.
4.
FYI only. USOM in conjunction Embassy should be simultaneously making analysis and preparing estimates and program requested Para 2 to facilitate review Haitian request and to advise Washington to permit advance planning. Unless overriding reasons to contrary USOM should also be available on request as agreed by Ambassador Davis to advise Presidential Committee as whole and individual members on form and technical details.
5.
FYI only. We are coordinating with Export-Import Bank and IBRD. If real emergency need demonstrated which cannot be met by effective utilization revenues and loans, will make every effort provide assistance from other sources. Same would however not exceed general level of $3 to $4 million over 2 years or so.
Dulles
  1. Drafted by Mr. Clay; approved by Mr. Newbegin.↩