316. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom) to the Secretary of State1
SUBJECT
- The Disappearance of Gerald Lester Murphy and his Possible Connection with Jesus de Galindez
On December 3, 1956, Gerald Lester Murphy, an American aviator who had been employed by the Dominican airline CDA, vanished in Ciudad Trujillo. On January 7, 1957, the Dominican Government announced the suicide of another CDA pilot, a Dominican named de la Maza, and quoted his alleged suicide note admitting responsibility for Murphy’s death.
Aside from what we feel are the many inconsistencies in the Dominican version of the deaths of both Murphy and de la Maza, we suspect that Murphy had been engaged in clandestine activities on behalf of the Dominican Government; among them the abduction [Page 896] of Jesus de Galindez, anti-Trujillo Spanish Basque exile, who vanished in New York City on March 12, 1956.
While the Dominican Government has indicated great concern over our inquiries about Murphy, the FBI has begun to turn up highly-sensitive evidence which may link conclusively the Galindez and Murphy cases. Inasmuch as the FBI investigation is still in progress, the Department, despite growing Congressional and press pressure, has until now refrained from disclosing any information beyond the bare facts. However, in view of Senator Morse’s2 charges that the Trujillo regime is responsible for Murphy’s disappearance, a Departmental statement will be issued at noon, January 25.3 The statement will summarize our efforts to clear up the Murphy case, without making any reference to his clandestine activities.