332. Letter From the Deputy Director of the Office of Middle American Affairs (Stewart) to the Chargé of the Embassy in the Dominican Republic (Spalding)1

Dear Fran: I have just received your letter of July 24 asking for clarification on the Department’s decision to postpone the sale of the 13 F–80C jet planes to the Dominican Republic.2 I had planned to write earlier this week but delayed when Ambassador de Moya3 asked for an interview with Mr. Rubottom 4 on July 24. Enclosed is a memorandum of that interview.5

We were not aware, either, that the Dominicans were negotiating for these planes until around July 5 when Munitions Control advised us that the Dominicans were asking for an export permit for the aircraft. We then found out that the Air Force had initiated negotiations with the Dominican Military Attaché here back in April, which was perfectly proper, as far as it was concerned, because we had not set any time limit on the sale when we notified Defense that the planes could be offered on a reimbursable basis. Apparently it was an oversight on the part of Defense in not mentioning to us that the negotiations were under way. About the middle of last week I got interested in the case and asked the Dominican Desk Officer to begin checking on the progress of the negotiation and he learned from REA that the Military Attaché had indicated to the Air Force that an acceptance and/or check would be handed to Defense by July 19. Mr. Rubottom took up the matter with Secretary Dulles at his staff meeting and it was unanimously concurred in by all present that the sale should be stopped at this time. This was done on the morning of July 19.

The prime reason for halting the sale was the fact that Congressman Porter had an amendment to the MSA calling for ceasing of economic and military aid to countries classified as dictatorships by the Secretary of State. This amendment was defeated last Friday. The sale of the aircraft to the Dominicans, had it gone through at about the same time, would have exposed us not only to criticism from those Congressmen who are conducting a campaign against [Page 923] dictators but also from friendly Congressmen who banded together and succeeded in defeating the amendment. In your telegram No. 558 we noted that delivery of these planes was not contemplated before July 1, 1958 and also that the Embassy recorded that the Department would better be able to rule on the political implications of a deal of this nature. As I say, we did not learn of the negotiation until it was almost too late.

Regarding the FY 1958 program for the Dominican Republic, you may be interested in a recommendation made by Mr. Litsey of REA regarding the delivery of equipment to the Dominicans:

“It would appear that a complete cessation of grant aid at this time would be inadvisable.

“We should inform Defense that we favor a slow-down in the delivery of Navy equipment for the Dominican Republic, recommended by our Embassy. We should indicate that we consider the delivery of ammunition (except the depth charges and practice bombs) to be politically undesirable at this time and request that the ammunition listed above (10,000 rounds of ammunition for the 40 mm. guns; 3,000 rounds of 3’ .50 caliber ammunition) be deleted from the program. We should be prepared to approve the sale of one squadron of thirteen F80C aircraft when the political climate warrants.”

As this is not firm Department policy as yet I would appreciate your not mentioning it to U.S. military people in Ciudad Trujillo.

I am sorry to have delayed in sending an explanation of our action in postponing the sale of the planes but the enclosed memorandum should be helpful in explaining our reasons.6

With all best wishes,

Sincerely,

C. Allan Stewart 7
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 739.5–MSP/7–2457. Confidential; Official–Informal.
  2. Supra .
  3. Manuel A. de Moya became the Dominican Ambassador to the United States on June 3.
  4. Rubottom’s appointment as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs was confirmed by the Senate on June 18.
  5. Not printed.
  6. In an August 1 letter, Spalding acknowledged receipt of Stewart’s letter of July 26. (Department of State, Central Files, 739.5–MSP/8–157)
  7. Printed from a copy which bears this typed signature.