344. Memorandum of a Conversation, American Embassy Residence, Panamá City, July 23, 19561
PRESENT
- The President
- The Secretary of State
- Asst. Secy. Holland
- Dr. Milton Eisenhower
- Mr. Neal
- Lt. Col. Walters
- President Magloire
- Foreign Minister Charles
President Magloire opened the conversation by saying how delighted he was to see the President looking so well and vigorous, so much so that he was able to sit through yesterday afternoon’s speeches.
President Magloire said that he wanted to express his gratitude to the President and to the Secretary for their understanding and the assistance that had been rendered to Haiti by the United States. He had recently seen Mr. Krenk in Port au Prince and had heard the good news that another million dollars was going to be made available to Haiti but this was tempered by the bad news that this was to be the last such contribution as it was felt that the state of emergency no longer existed.2 President Magloire added humorously that the state of emergency no longer existed but unfortunately their problems still faced them whole and entire. He said that all Haiti wished to do was to increase her production and to be able to sell these products on the United States market at reasonable prices. This related particularly to coffee, cocoa and sisal.
President Magloire said that they had been disappointed in the Artibonite Valley project. The American company that had come in on the recommendation of the U.S. Government had calculated the cost of the project at about eighteen million dollars and now the cost would run up to around thirty-two million dollars. They would not be able to meet this amount and unfortunately, under these conditions they would be unable to obtain the electric power station which was the consideration that had made the whole project worth [Page 946] while. President Eisenhower then asked if there had been a great increase in labor and material costs. President Magloire said that the increase derived principally from the cost of the machinery to be imported from the United States as the increase in local labor costs had been very small. The President said that he would have the matter looked into as he did not like inefficiency where he or his friends were concerned. President Magloire said that he felt the error arose as a result of mistaken calculations on the part of the NAPENSEMAT (?) corporation that had made the study. The actual work was being carried out by the Brown and Roots Company. The President again said that he would have the matter looked into.
President Magloire thanked him and said that Mrs. Magloire joined him in sending their respects to Mrs. Eisenhower as they both recalled the warm and friendly welcome that she had given them when they went to the White House on the occasion of their visit to the United States.
President Eisenhower thanked him and said that the photographers would like to take pictures if President Magloire had no objection. The Haitian President replied that he would be delighted. He then took leave of the President.
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, Panama Chronology. Secret. No drafting information appears on the source text, but a handwritten notation indicates that the memorandum was approved for distribution by Andrew J. Goodpaster, the President’s Staff Secretary. President Eisenhower and his party were in Panamá to attend the meeting of the Presidents of the American Republics, July 21–22. For documentation, see Documents 109 ff.↩
- Telegram 138 to Port-au-Prince, June 27, authorized Ambassador Davis to inform the Haitian Government that $1 million in additional emergency grant aid was being made available to it from fiscal year 1956 funds. Davis was also to inform the Haitians that no development assistance would be requested or considered for fiscal year 1957. (Department of State, Central Files, 838.00–TA/6–2756)↩