321. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom) to the Secretary of State1

SUBJECT

  • United States Attitude Toward Dominican Republic

Question

Whether, as a result of the inadequate explanation of the Dominican Republic regarding the disappearance of Gerald Murphy and the various indications of the improper activities, including possibly murder and kidnapping, of certain Dominican officials in the United States, we should express our feeling toward the Dominican Government by declaring persona non grata the Consul General in New York.

Discussion

As I have explained to you in staff meeting, the case of the disappearance of a young American pilot, Gerald Murphy, last seen in Ciudad Trujillo in early December 1956, has become a cause célèbre. The reports of the Dominican Government of his disappearance and the attempt to place responsibility for his death on a Dominican citizen named de la Maza, who allegedly committed suicide out of remorse over his reported murder of Murphy, have not been satisfactory to this Department or the Department of Justice, although the Dominican Government considers the Murphy case closed.

Tomorrow Life magazine’s feature story, contained in the first eight pages of the issue, presents the background of the Murphy case and ties his disappearance to the disappearance of the widely-known de Galindez, advancing the “theory” that Murphy disappeared following careless talk of his part in flying de Galindez out of the United States to the Dominican Republic. Time-Life investigation obviously paralleled current FBI investigations in the United States and there is much evidence in the story which has been confirmed, but unfortunately insufficient evidence has been made available to us to support a definite case against the Dominican Consul General, Señor Espaillat, who is reported to have been the one who recruited [Page 908] Murphy and who may have helped in the reported kidnapping of de Galindez as suggested by Life magazine. We do, however, have evidence of other improper activities by Dominican officials, including the Consul General.

The Life story will increase the pressure on the Department from virtually all of the U.S. press, certain members of the Congress, and liberal elements in Latin America and the U.S. to take action against the Dominican Republic. In satisfying these demands, however, the Department cannot overlook the risk that the Dominicans, in the event the U.S. publicly expresses its disapproval of its actions or those of any of its representatives, might retaliate against (1) our investors in the Dominican Republic whose holdings total nearly $100 million, (2) our guided missiles testing facilities there which the Defense Department considers “vital”, and . . . .

In the absence of firm evidence linking the Dominican Consul General in New York to the disappearances of de Galindez and Murphy, I think that the U.S. should take no direct action against him, but rather should call in Ambassador Salazar and give him a very firm dressing down, indicating we have considerable knowledge of the improper activities of Dominican personnel in the United States and demanding that they be stopped immediately. We have reason to believe that Consul General Espaillat will soon be recalled by his Government in any event, and with the above-suggested warning to the Ambassador we will accomplish one of our main purposes, namely, to halt Dominican activities inimical to U.S. interests. This course of action will not, of course, satisfy all members of the Congress or the U.S. and Latin American liberal elements.

Recommendation

That you approve my informing the Dominican Ambassador along the lines outlined above and that we take no direct publicized action at this time against the Dominican Consul General in New York or any other official here.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 239.1122–Murphy, Gerald Lester/2–1957. Secret. A handwritten note at the top of the source text reads: “This memo did not go to Secretary. Mr. Murphy felt there was no need for this and approved it instead.”